The first step in getting married in Costa Rica, is to ensure that you have all the legal documents needed to successfully have a wedding inside of Costa Rica. All paper work and items needed to legally have a Costa Rican marriage will be explained in detail to you, throughout this section of the guide.
Birth Certificate: Both the spouse and the groom that are having a wedding must have a legal birth certificate from the state or country, which the couple was born in. This is a simple piece of paperwork that you can get from the library in the city of the state you were born, this of course is only true if you were born inside of the United States. If you are not a native of the United States, then you must contact your local government in your native country that the couple was born inside of and ask for a copy of both of the bride and grooms Birth Certificates.
Legal Documents You Must Bring To Get Married In Costa Rica
Certified Single Paperwork: This paperwork is something both the groom and the bride must have to validate the wedding. This is actually a law by the Costa Rican government; the paperwork must have been issued at least three months before the wedding date is set for. Not only that, but the couple must also have this paperwork translated and legalized within the Costa Rican embassy. Another place that the couple can have this paperwork translated and legalized is in the embassy that you have in your home country for Costa Rica nation. Without this paperwork a wedding cannot be performed legally, and three months is how long this paperwork need to be completed make sure to consider this when planning the date of your wedding.
Divorce Paperwork If Applicable : If the bride or groom has ever had a previous marriage which ended in divorce, one rule on this is that the bride or groom has to have been divorced for at least 10 months before the spouse is allowed to have a wedding. This law in Costa Rica does not apply to move the groom. These divorce papers must also be translated at the embassy for Costa Rica in your home country, or at the Costa Rican embassy that is located in Costa Rica.
Following all of these marital laws is mandatory in Costa Rica, several of these restrictions can be a time issue. Sorting these out before actually taking a trip to Costa Rica is recommended. Getting all of the paperwork ready for the wedding will ensure that you do not have to stay in Costa Rica for an extended period of time to have your marriage there, do not forget that being prepared when getting married in Costa Rica is essential to success.
