Consolato Generale d'Italia

Houston

page 1 (one)

MARRIAGE OF U.S. CITIZENS IN ITALY

United States citizens wishing to be married in Italy must appear with two witnesses and before the “ Ufficiale dello Stato Civile” (Civil Registrar) of the city or town where he or she plans to be married and must formally state his/her intention to marry. At this time the couple must present all the required documentation (see below) to the Civil Registrar, after which banns are usually posted at the local City Hall for eight consecutive days before the marriage may take place. However, banns are waived by the “ Ufficiale dello Stato Civile “ if neither party of the marriage is an Italian citizen and if neither party is residing in Italy.

On the fourth day (or any other successive date) after the banns have been waived, the couple may be married, either in a civil ceremony or a religious one.

A civil ceremony is performed by the “ Ufficiale dello Stato Civile” or one of his assistants. If a religious ceremony is performed by a Roman Catholic priest , a separate civil ceremony is not required, but the priest must register the marriage with the Ufficiale dello Stato Civile in order for it to be legal. Because of the special Italian requirements applicable to marriages performed by non Roman Catholic clergymen, the latter usually insists on a civil ceremony prior to performing the religious one so as to ensure the legality of the marriage.

The following documents must be submitted to the “ Ufficiale dello Stato Civile” by both parties when declaring their intention to marry:

  1. VALID U .S. PASSPORTor American Armed Forces identification card;
  2. CERTIFIED COPY-LONG FORM OF THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE( it must indicate the place and the date of birth, parents’ name, etc...,see #2 of the attached letter);
  3. BIRTH CERTIFICATEMUST BE LEGALIZED WITH APOSTILLE ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHERE THE CERTIFICATE IS ORIGINATED
  4. BIRTH CERTIFICATE MUST BE TRANSLATED INTO ITALIAN.-APOSTILLE DO NOT REQUIRE TRANSLATION.THIS CONSULATE DOES NOT PROVIDE TRANSLATIONS - PLEASE REFER TO THE LIST OF TRANSLATORS PUBLISHED IN OUR HOMEPAGE.

5. If applicable, evidence of termination of any previous marriage such as certified copy of the divorce decree,

annulment decree or death certificate of the late spouse ( TRANSLATED INTO ITALIAN AND LEGALIZED WITH

‘APOSTILLE’);

6. A DECLARATION BEFORE AN AMERICAN CONSULAR OFFICE IN ITALYsworn to by the United States citizen,

stating that in accordance with the laws to which the citizen is subject in the United States

there is no obstacle to his/her marriage in Italy.

This document must be legalized by the competent Italian authorities in Italy ( for more detailed information

the U.S. Diplomatic Representative in Italy should be consulted);

7. ATTO NOTORIO”. (see page 2 (two)This is a declaration, in addition to the vital records described in #4. above, stating that according to the US law, there are no obstacles to his/her marriage.

This document is to be sworn to by two witnesses before the Italian Consulate in the United States.

Any U.S. citizen going to Italy for marriage, is urged to obtain it in the United States before leaving, but it can also beobtained in Italy at the local Court (Pretura civile) in the city where the marriage will take place.

NOTE: The documents mentioned in #2. and #3. must be legalized with the “APOSTILLE” issued by the Secretary of State where the certificates are originated.

PAGE 2 (TWO)

PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY

In order to obtain from this Office the “Atto Notorio per matrimonio” ( SWORN AFFIDAVIT) you must provideto this Consulate General the following documentation:

  1. PHOTOCOPY OF A VALID U.S. PASSPORT, and CURRENT ADDRESS IN THE US;
  1. CERTIFIED COPY OF THE BIRTH CERTIFICATES – LONG FORM(containing all relevant information: date and city of birth, parents’ name)
  1. BIRTH CERTIFICATEMUST BE LEGALIZED WITH APOSTILLE ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHERE THE CERTIFICATE ARE ORIGINATED

BIRTH CERTIFICATE MUST BE TRANSLATED INTO ITALIAN–THE APOSTILLEDOES NOT REQUIRE

TRANSLATION

THE CONSULATE DO NOT PROVIDES TRANSLATIONS PLEASE REFER TO THE LIST OF TRANSLATORS PUBLISHED IN OUR HOMEPAGE.

4. If applicable, evidence of termination of any previous marriage such as certified copy of the divorce decree,

annulment decree or death certificate of the late spouse (LEGALIZED BY THE‘APOSTILLE’AND TRANSLATED INTO ITALIAN );

5. NAME AND PERSONAL DATA OF TWO WITNESSES( name, date and place of birth, citizenship, present address,

number of valid driver license) who haveto appear in the presence of the Consul General to declare, under

oath, that they know that the interested parties are free to marry and that, according to the Italian Law, there is no

objection to the marriage.

IF APPLICABLE:

  1. Certified Copy of the Divorce Decree signed by the District Judge (with ‘’APOSTILLE’’ and translated into Italian);
  2. Citizens under age must present the Decree issued by the competent Minor Court, authorizing the minor to marry;
  3. Widowers or Widows must present the Certified Copy of the Spouse’s Death Certificate (with ‘’Apostille’’);

Please note that documents under 2., A., B., and C. must be duly legalized through the APOSTILLE issued by the Secretary of State in which the documents have been issued and translated into Italian. The translations will be successively certified by this Office.

Women who have been divorced or are widows for less than 300 days have to require a specific authorization to marry from the competent Italian Court.

Once collected all required documents you are kindly requested to contact the Notary Office of this Consulate by email requesting an appointment for you and the witnesses to sign the “ Atto Notorio “ and to get information about the current consular fee.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT

send by email all personal information of the couple and the witnesses (name, date of birth, city of birth, citizenship, current address) as listed below:

BRIDE - NAME , LAST - CITY OF BIRTH - DATE OF BIRTH - CITIZENSHIP - CURRENT ADDRESS

GROOM - NAME , LAST - CITY OF BIRTH - DATE OF BIRTH - CITIZENSHIP - CURRENT ADDRESS

WITNESS 1 - NAME , LAST - CITY OF BIRTH - DATE OF BIRTH - CITIZENSHIP - CURRENT ADDRESS

WITNESS 2 - NAME , LAST - CITY OF BIRTH - DATE OF BIRTH - CITIZENSHIP - CURRENT ADDRESS

APPOINTMENTS WILL BE GRANTED NOT EARLIER THAN TWO/ THREE WEEKS AFTER THAT COPY OF ALL THE DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATIONS, AS MENTIONED ABOVE, HAS BEEN SENT BY EMAIL TO THIS OFFICE.

P.S.: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE “ATTO NOTORIO” CAN BE ISSUED BY OUR OFFICE ONLY FOR RESIDENTS IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ARKANSAS - LOUISIANA - OKLAHOMA – TEXAS.

IN CASE OF IMPOSSIBILITY TO CARRY OUT THE PROCEDURE BEFORE TRAVELING TO ITALY, THE COUPLE CAN HAVE THE ATTO NOTORIO DONE IN ITALY AT THE COURT OF THE MUNICIPALITY WHERE THE MARRIAGE IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE.

PLEASE check withthe State Registrar where you reside if the foreign marriage will be legally recognized bythat State (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas).