State requirements for marriage

The Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the Kildare District is: Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Superintendent Registrar’s Office, Unit 5, Monread Sports and Leisure Complex, Monread, Naas, Co. Kildare. Tel. 045 887 660

Requirements for Civil Registration

When the couple have chosen the date, church and priest for their marriage (and confirmed these matters with the relevant priest or priests), they will then need to make an appointment to meet with any civil registrar in person to give notice of their intention to marry. This meeting with the registrar must take place at least three months before the wedding in order to comply with the civil requirement. The couple will be required to bring the following documentation to the registrar’s office:

• photo identity (preferably a passport or driving license)
• names and dates of birth of witnesses
• name of the church where they wish to be married
• name of the priest who will officiate at the marriage; this presumes that the celebrant is a registered solemniser and that he has agreed to officiate at the marriage.
• if either party has been previously married, they must provide the civil registrar with an original divorce decree or a death certificate if widowed.

When all the civil requirements have been completed satisfactorily the couple will receive, from the registrar, a Marriage Registration Form (MRF). This document will replace the current form. Without this form the couple cannot get married nor may the solemniser proceed with the marriage ceremony.

Both the solemniser and the parish priest of the place of marriage will receive notification from the civil registrar’s office concerning the marriage due to take place.

The couple must present the MRF to the solemniser before the wedding so that he can check that the details are correct before marriage takes place. This should be done as early as is convenient.

If changes are necessary – for instance, changing the name of the solemniser – the couple should contact the civil registrar to arrange for the re-issue of the MRF at the earliest possible stage before the ceremony.

After the wedding, the solemniser must ensure that the MRF is signed by the couple, the two witnesses and himself.

After the marriage has been celebrated, it is the responsibility of the couple (not the local priest or solemniser) to return the MRF to any Registrar’s Office. This form must be returned within one month of the marriage.

While all of the above business can be done with any civil registrar, it may be useful for you to know that the name, address and telephone number of the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the Kildare District is: Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Superintendent Registrar’s Office, Unit 5, Monread Sports and Leisure Complex, Monread, Naas, Co. Kildare. Tel. 045 887 660

The new legislation will require that the solemniser (the priest who officiates at the marriage) must ask the couple to make a verbal declaration of no civil impediment. It is recommended practice that this declaration be made at the beginning of the wedding, when the bride and groom arrive at the sanctuary.

All couples getting married in the republic of Ireland are required to to give notification in person of their intention to marry to a Registrar at least 3 months before the intended date of the marriage. The notification can be given to any Registrar.

When you make the appointment with the Registrar you will be informed what information and documents you need to bring with you. The following is a checklist of what is required. You should ensure that you have all of these documents as otherwise your notification will be incomplete.

CHECKLIST : For your three Month Marriage Notification meeting with Registrar

IMPORTANT: If you do not bring the required documents your notification will be incomplete.

Each person must bring:

• PPS Number

• Original passport OR other photo ID

• Original Birth certificate

• Utility Bill as proof of address

• (If a Civil Marriage) 2 passport sized photos

Photocopies:

• Photocopy of passport photo page OR other photo ID

• Photocopy of birth certificate

• Photocopy of utility bill

Other Requirements:

• Name & Date of Birth of both witnesses (must be over 18 years of age)

• Prescribed Fee (€150)(additional charges apply for outside venues)

• Name of Solemniser –

• Nature of Ceremony (Civil/Religious).

If Divorced:

• Irish Divorce – Original/Original Certified Copy signed by Court Official/Solicitor of Divorce Papers and photocopy of same. Divorce Decree under Section 5(1) of the Family Law Act, 1996.

• Foreign Divorce – Please contact the Registrar prior to making your appointment.

If Widowed:

• Original Civil Marriage Certificate and photocopy of same

• Original Death Certificate of Late Spouse and photocopy of same

If you have a Civil Annulment:

• Original Civil Annulment Papers and photocopy of same

• Letter of No Appeal

• In cases where any of the above required documents are not written in the Irish or English Language, Certified Translations of such documents into English must be provided. Where one or both parties to the proposed marriage has a limited knowledge of the English Language, you must engage a Translator to accompany you to your appointment and to your Marriage.

Attending at the office of the Registrar:

• At the notification meeting you will be asked to sign a declaration that there is no impediment to your marriage. You will be given a Marriage Registration Form which is your licence to marry. This form will be signed by you and your witnesses and  Solemniser on the day of your marriage. When it is returned to any registrar’s office, your marriage will be registered and it will then be possible for you to purchase a marriage certificate.

• If the parties to the proposed marriage have a child born before the intended date of marriage, please inform the registrar for advise on re-registering the birth.

If you have any further queries regarding your Church Ceremony, please contact the Parish Office, Broadford 046 9551203 Monday to Thursday 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.