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Getting
Married in Antigua
Fees:
The registration fee of US$40 must be paid in person at the
courthouse in the government building on Queen Elizabeth Highway.
The application fee for the special marriage license is US$150,
and the Marriage Officer's fee is US$50.
The Ministry of
Legal Affairs is open Monday to Thursday, 8:30 am to 4:30
pm and on Fridays from 8 am to 3 pm. Flights which arrive
into Antigua after 3 pm will not permit couples to get to
the Ministry of Justice in time to apply for the Special Marriage
License. In such cases, the couple can arrange for the marriage
to take place either the next day after completing the application
process, or, on any available day thereafter.
Documents:
You both will need valid passports as proof of citizenship.
Make certain your passport has not expired and is valid for
at least six months after your arrival date in Antigua. We
suggest an original copy of your birth certificate (with a
raised seal) in addition to your valid passport..
If either of you
have been previously married, then bring along the original
divorce decree. A widow(er) must bring both the original marriage
and death certificates. These documents must have the raised
seal from the court, because photocopies are not acceptable.
It
is essential that original documents are taken to the hotel
and anything not in English must be translated into an English
document, which is to be signed and stamped by a solicitor
stating that they are true translation of the original.
Are there any
other legal requirements?
Both parties must be over 15, if under 18, written authorization
from your parents or guardians is required. It is important
that all documents presented are original or certified original
by the issuing departments or offices.
Ensure that all
documents are in your legal name, and provide affidavits in
cases where you are known by another name. Your marriage must
also be solemnized or celebrated in the presence of two or
more witnesses, apart from the Marriage Officer. (Just ask
a guest or two to do this for you).
Can we get married on a beach or in a church?
Beach weddings will be performed by a Marriage Officer of
the Justice and Legal Affairs department. In Antigua, a Minister
or Pastor of a church cannot marry anyone outside of a church
as it is considered outside of their jurisdiction and therefore
the ceremony is not legal.
If a couple wants to be married by a Priest, the ceremony
must be done inside of a church. Also, for a Priest to marry
visitors to the island, the couple must have a letter from
their church confirming that they attend church on a regular
basis at home and that they have done marriage counseling
with their local Pastor. They give this letter to the Priest
here when they see him before the marriage ceremony at the
church.
If the couple wants
to have a Priest bless them right after the Marriage Officer
has married them, this can be arranged and they can give him
a gratuity for doing this.
Is the marriage
ceremony legal?
The marriage is both legal and binding. Additionally, consent
must be expressed by both parties to accept each other as
husband and wife.
Contact
Caribbean Info. Office for your Antigua hotel reservations
and to reserve your Antigua wedding date. If you need assistance
with air flights, we will research the lowest airfares and
most convenient flight schedules when your reservation dates
are confirm. We will assist with all the arrangements for
a romantic wedding ceremony.
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