Legalities of Getting Married in Mexico
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Legal marriages in Mexico are performed
only by the judge of the Civil Registry, usually at the offices
of the Civil
Registry. An application for the marriage (in Spanish) is filed in the
offices of the Civil Registry.
In order to submit the application, you must present the following documents and pay a fee:
- Birth certificates and passports or other photo ID for
both bride and groom.
- Results of blood tests, which must be performed
in Mexico no more than two weeks prior to filing the application.
- Valid tourist permits or other visa from Mexican immigration authorities for both bride and groom permitting them to be in Mexico.
If previously married, the following documents must also be provided:
- Copy of the divorce decree (first and last pages
showing the names of plaintiff and respondent as well as the date
the divorce was granted.)
- Death Certificate in case of death of the previous spouse.
In addition to the above documents, the couple also must provide four witnesses and each must have a photo ID. The witnesses must be at least 18 years old. Parents cannot be witnesses. Witnesses can be provided for a modest fee.
The marriage can be performed as soon as the application is filed, based on the judge's availability. The judge's fee increases if you want him or her to perform the ceremony somewhere other than the offices of the Civil Registry.
In Mexico, it is customary to get married twice! The legal marriage is considered a formality. The religious marriage is considered the really important occasion.