Services – Legal Aspect
U.S. citizen legal requirements to get married in Italy
Paperwork requirements for U.S. citizens getting married in Italy
U.S. nationals will need to ensure that they have the following documents, all of which are legal requirements for getting married in Italy.
- VALID U.S. PASSPORT.
- A certified copy in “long form” of the BIRTH CERTIFICATE containing the name of both mother (maiden name) and father. The long-form birth certificate does NOT need to be translated into Italian.
- A FINAL DIVORCE DECREE (if applicable) or DEATH CERTIFICATE (if applicable) of the previous spouse. Neither the divorce decree nor the death certificate of the previous spouse need to be translated into Italian.
- “ATTO NOTORIO”: this document can be obtained:
- At any Italian Consulate (or Embassy) in the US in the presence of four witnesses.
- Should point 1 not be feasible due to restrictions imposed by the Italian Consulate (or Embassy), then said document can be obtained at any law court in Italy in the presence of two witnesses.
- This declaration shall state that there are no impediments to the marriage pursuant to Italian law (Articles 85, 86, 87 (par. 1, 2 and 4), 88 and 89 of the Italian Civil Code).
This document cannot be issued more than 3 months before the wedding as it is valid only for three months.
- NULLA OSTA OR SWORN STATEMENT (to be processed in Italy): This document must be issued in the presence of a U.S. Consular Officer (either in Milan, Florence, Rome or Naples). This declaration shall state that there are no impediments to the marriage pursuant to US law. The presence of witnesses is not required. This document must be legalized at any Prefettura office in Italy.
- American citizens must apply for a Nulla Osta before their wedding in Italy and are requested to attend an appointment at the US Consulate in Italy and a second meeting at an Italian Court of Law. These appointments must take place before the wedding and can be scheduled as follows:
• Paperwork completed in Florence on two separate days (either Monday and Tuesday, or Tuesday and Wednesday).
IMPORTANT: Women whose previous marriage was terminated within the last 300 days must obtain a waiver from a law court in Italy. This is issued on medical evidence that she is not pregnant.
“These instructions have been prepared on the basis of the most updated information notified to our company by the relevant authorities. The aim of these instructions is to provide guidance to our potential clients. However this guidance is without prejudice to any amendments applied from time to time to current procedures by authorities involved in wedding paperwork, which will be confirmed by our staff upon confirmation of wedding bookings.”
“The information provided herein reflects the most updated instructions made available to us. We disclaim all responsibility and liability with regard to any changes and amendments dictated by the relevant authorities involved in the process that might be introduced with immediate effect and with no prior notice.”
