When traveling to the Philippines to marry someone special, you may encounter the term “Civil Wedding”, as opposed to a church wedding. The civil wedding is much cheaper, quicker and convenient.
The traditional civil wedding is usually conducted by a judge of the RTC Court. However, it can also be performed by the Mayor of a city.
If you plan to marry in the Philippines, then you will first hve to go to the embassy, present your passport and any original copy of any divorce or annulment decrees, and obtain a “Certificate of Capacity to Marry”. Next, you present the Certificate of Capacity to the Municipal Clerk along with your passport and the ladies documentation, and receive your marriage contract. By law, you must then wait 10 days before you can marry. This is a so–called “cooling off period”, to allow you to make sure you are doing the right thing, or in case you change your mind. You will go through this process no matter whether a formal church wedding, or just a civil wedding. During the waiting period, you and your fiancee will have time to search for your Ninong and Ninang. (The godfather/s, godmother/s and sponsors).
While here this month, I am fortunate enough to be invited to a civil wedding between two Philippine citizens. They also agreed to allow me to video their civil wedding, which takes place at the Muntinlupa Municipal Building by a judge. Upon returning to the states, in January, 2012, I will make that video available to you here at the website, and also on Youtube. The girl is 18 and is 9 months pregnant, so the wedding will save the child’s birth certificate from having “unknown” for the father.
Even though this wedding is not with an American, I am posting that video so that you can see how simple and quick the civil wedding is in the Philippines.
The below link will allow you to view Marriage Contracts and Birth Certificates and other official documents issued by the NSO (National Security Office). Just copy and paste into your browser.
http://www.google.com.ph/search?q=MARRIAGE+CONTRACT,+PHILIPPINES&hl=tl&client=firefox-a&hs=OMC&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Xc7uTsLVA8Li2AWLwYmmDw&ved=0CD0QsAQ&biw=1024&bih=576
NOTE:
It is a good idea to obtain at least TWO copies of every document your fiancee may need. (I suggest THREE). This is because some of the same documents will be needed by both the passport agency in the Philippines, as well as the United States Embassy for the petition! She will also need a birth certificate as well as her passport when obtaining a state Identification, or even school admission in the states.
UPDATE:
The couple who’s civil wedding was captured on the video made it just in time. Today, Dec. 20th, 2011, at 10:45 am, one day after the wedding, she (GingGing) gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby girl (Named Janel) right in the house with the assistance of a midwife. I was lucky enough to be present, and will post photos when I return to the states. Both mother and baby are fine. But daddy Lloyd was expecting a boy! ha ha ha
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