Usa Citizens

IF YOU HAVE BEEN DIVORCED LESS THAN 300 DAYS FROM THE PROPOSED WEDDING DATE, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH WEDDING PLANNING.
 
UNDERSTANDING PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS
At first sight, paperwork requirements may appear a confusing maze of bureaucratic nonsense but, in fact, there are only 3 documents that are necessary to marry in Italy. Here are some explanations of the most frequently asked questions.

1. ATTO NOTORIO - What is it?
 
It consists of a meeting in front of the Italian Consulate with witnesses in which a declaration relative to the civil status (single, divorced, etc.) of the couple is made. An official document is then drawn up to present to us for filing purposes here in Italy. You need to set an appointment yourselves with the Consulate and ask how many witnesses are required - it varies from location to location.

2. APOSTILLE of a DOCUMENT

This peculiar word means that the original documents (birth and divorce, if applicable) presented to the Italian Consulate have been:

1. Sent to the Secretary of State's Notary Public of the state the document originated in for authentication (or Apostille seal) 
The APOSTILLE is simply the seal of the Notary Public of the State in accordance to the Hague Convention which means that the documents can be used officially in a foreign country.

Example:
Jane Smith was born in Miami, Florida. She therefore sends her Birth Certificate to the Secretary of State's Notary Public office in Tallahassee requesting an Apostille. The certificate is returned to her with the Apostille and Seal.

TRANSLATIONS
All birth and/or divorce certificates must be translated into Italian.
The translations are then authenticated by the Italian Consulate.


3. NULLA OSTA

It is the final declaration to be made in ITALY before the US CONSULATE or EMBASSY stating you are free to marry. Then this declaration must be authenticated in any Prefect's office. The two procedures do not usually take more than one morning, but we require that your arrival be at least 2 to 3 weekdays prior to your wedding date to be safe. The requirements may vary from town to town so ask us specifically. Basically these are the main procedures, but we always advise you to contact the Italian Consulate in the US or relative country directly, since each Consulate may vary slightly the timing and scheduling of all the above.
Listed below are the paperwork requirements. Each Italian Consulate does things just a bit differently and we always advise you to call them and check with them what to do to set up an appointment for the Atto Notorio.

Documents needed before starting
1. US passport 
2. Birth certificate 
3. If previously divorced, your divorce certificate 
 
TRANSLATIONS REQUIRED
Documents 2 and 3 must be translated into Italian and apostilled through the Secretary of State's Notary Public of the state the document originated in.

The translations are authenticated by the Italian Consulate. Our company does provide translation services.

ATTO NOTORIO
You must order the form from the Italian Consulate and/or call and find out when an appointment can be set up for this to be done. Some Consulates require only 2 witnesses per couple (not relatives) to witness the Atto, while other may require up to 4 witnesses PER PERSON to appear (totalling 8).

When the Atto Notorio is done and the original documents apostilled, you must:

1. Fax us a copy to Italy (0744.7731194) so that we can verify that everything is complete. 
2. After we give you our OK, you will express mail all documents toour address in Italy. 
3. KEEP A COPY OF YOUR DIVORCE CERTIFICATE, IF APPLICABLE, TO TAKE TO THE US CONSULATE IN ITALY. 
In some cases, the ATTO NOTORIO MAY BE DONE IN ITALY but we prefer it be done in the US unless time does not allow you to.

The last declaration is to be done in Italy before the US Consulates in Florence, Rome, Milan, Trieste (near Venice), Genoa or Naples; we will set up the appointment for you.

If you have been divorced less than 300 days from the proposed wedding date, there are further requirements to obtain permission to marry in Italy. 

UK CITIZENS 

• If you are both British, you must publish the banns at your local registry office in England. After 23 days of publication, the registry office releases a Certificate of Non Impediment.

• When you come to Italy, you must bring this original document so that the Nulla Osta (sworn statement) can be done at the British Consulate (this can also be sent by mail to the Consulate or Embassy). 

• If you have been previously married and are divorced, you must bring the "Divorce Decree Absolute".

• The following documents must be presented to the British Consulate (also by mail).

 For other nationalities, please contact us at info@weddingsinumbria.com