Marriage certificate: request for full copy or extract
Verified 10 August 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
You want to apply for a marriage certificate and you want to know how to proceed?
Gait varies by place of marriage : in France or abroad.
In all cases, the application for a marriage certificate is free.
In France
You can apply on the internet.
You must have or create an account Service-Public.fr or use FranceConnect.
Application for marriage certificate (celebrated in France) - Free service
You will receive the document at home by post in a few days.
The delay may vary depending on the processing of your request by the services of the city council and the time of delivery of the mail.
If you can't apply online, you can apply online by post or on-site to the mayor's office.
By mail
You can send your request by free paper mail to the mayor's office.
If you are applying for someone else, you will need to provide your contact information.
The information to be provided on your mail depends on the type of action requested:
Type of document requested | Mail information to be provided |
|---|---|
Full Copy | Date of marriage, surnames, first names of the spouses + surnames and first names of their parents |
Extract with filiation | Date of marriage, surnames, first names of the spouses + surnames and first names of their parents |
Unrelated Extract | Date of marriage, surnames, first names of spouses |
You will receive the document at home by post in a few days.
The delay may vary depending on the processing of your request by the services of the city council and the time of delivery of the mail.
On the spot
You must apply to the mayor's office.
The document will be issued to you immediately.
Warning
if you request a marriage certificate (full copy or extract with filiation) other than yours (that of your daughter, for example), proof of your direct filiation with this person (copy of your birth certificate, family record,...) will be requested. You will also need to show your ID card.
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Full Copy
The complete copy shall reproduce all the information contained in the marriage certificate entered in the register of civil status.
It shall include in particular the following information:
- Surnames, first names, date and place of birth, on each of the spouses
- Identity, occupation and domicile, on each of their parents
- Marginal entries where they exist
Extract with filiation
The extract with parentage is a summary of the information contained in the marriage certificate entered in the civil registry.
It shall contain the following information:
- Surname, forenames, date and place of birth, on each of the spouses
- Identity, occupation and domicile, on each of their parents
- Marginal entries where they exist
Unrelated Extract
The extract without parentage is a summary of the information contained in the marriage certificate entered in the civil registry.
It shall contain information on each spouse (surname, forenames, date and place of birth) and marginal mentions when they exist.
Access to a copy of a marriage certificate depends on the nature of the document requested and the person requesting it.
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Full Copy
You can get a full copy of a marriage certificate, if you are one of the following :
- Person concerned by the act (provided he is of age) or his legal representative
- Spouse, wife or partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent
- Ascendant of the person concerned (parent, grandparent...)
- Descendant of the person concerned (child, grandchild)
- Lawyer (example: a lawyer)
If you are on this list, you can obtain a copy of a birth or marriage certificate from the public archives. at any time and without limitation in time.
Any other person (for example, an uncle, an aunt) cannot ask the communication of those documents before the following deadlines:
- 75 years from the date of the most recent document or document included in the file, if the person is alive
- Or 25 years from the date of the death of the person if the latter period is shorter
Warning
If the person is a minor, the time frames are different:
- 100 years from the date of the most recent document or document included in the file if the person is alive
- Or 25 years from the date of the death of the person if the latter period is shorter
Extract with filiation
You can obtain an extract of a marriage certificate with filiation, if you are one of the following:
- Person concerned by the act (provided he is of age) or his legal representative
- Spouse, wife or partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent
- Ascendant of the person concerned (parent, grandparent...)
- Descendant of the person concerned (child, grandchild)
- Lawyer (example: a lawyer)
If you are on this list, you can obtain a copy of a birth or marriage certificate from the public archives. at any time and without limitation in time.
Any other person (for example, an uncle, an aunt) cannot ask the communication of those documents before the following deadlines:
- 75 years from the date of the most recent document or document included in the file, if the person is alive
- Or 25 years from the date of the death of the person if the latter period is shorter
Warning
If the person is a minor, the time frames are different:
- 100 years from the date of the most recent document or document included in the file if the person is alive
- Or 25 years from the date of the death of the person if the latter period is shorter
Unrelated Extract
You can get an excerpt from a marriage certificate without filiation without having to justify your request.
Yes, the application for a marriage certificate shall be free.
Warning
there is no need to make your request on websites that ask you for financial compensation.
Abroad
If the marriage certificate has been recorded in the civil registration records of the consulate, you can request an act on the internet.
You must have or create an account Service-Public.fr or use FranceConnect.
Application for marriage certificate (celebrated abroad) - Free service
The time limit for issuing your marriage certificate is approximately 20 days.
To get it, you need to log in to your Service-Public.fr account.
You can download the PDF document to your personal space.
You can also request to receive it by mail.
The document shall include the electronic signature of a registrar.
If you can't apply online, you can submit your request by mail, on free paper, with the Central Civil Registry Service of Nantes.
Who shall I contact
Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)
Attention: the Central Civil Registry Service does not welcome any public.
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a Frenchman abroad
Only by mail to:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
You can apply for a civil status certificate through a online service.
For more information, you can:
- Go to diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 4 pm
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing - Email courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
If you are applying for someone else, you will need to provide your contact information.
The information to be provided on your mail depends on the type of action requested.
Type of document requested | Mail information to be provided |
|---|---|
Full Copy | Date of marriage, surnames, first names of the spouses + surnames and first names of their parents |
Extract with filiation | Date of marriage, surnames, first names of the spouses + surnames and first names of their parents |
Unrelated Extract | Date of marriage, surnames, first names of spouses |
Warning
- If you request a marriage certificate (full copy or extract with filiation) other than yours (that of your daughter for example), proof of your direct filiation with this person (copy of your birth certificate, family record,...) will be requested. You will also need to attach a copy of your identity card.
- If you are a foreigner, you have to go to the authority that established the marriage certificate.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Full Copy
The complete copy shall reproduce all the information contained in the marriage certificate entered in the register of civil status.
It shall include in particular the following information:
- Surnames, first names, date and place of birth, on each of the spouses
- Identity, occupation and domicile, on each of their parents
- Marginal entries where they exist
Extract with filiation
The extract with parentage is a summary of the information contained in the marriage certificate entered in the civil registry.
It shall contain the following information:
- Surname, forenames, date and place of birth, on each of the spouses
- Identity, occupation and domicile, on each of their parents
- Marginal entries where they exist
Unrelated Extract
The extract without parentage is a summary of the information contained in the marriage certificate entered in the civil registry.
It shall contain information on each spouse (surname, forenames, date and place of birth) and marginal mentions when they exist.
Access to a copy of a marriage certificate depends on the nature of the document requested and the person requesting it.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Full Copy
You can get a full copy of a marriage certificate, if you are one of the following :
- Person concerned by the act (provided he is of age) or his legal representative
- Spouse, wife or partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent
- Ascendant of the person concerned (parent, grandparent...)
- Descendant of the person concerned (child, grandchild)
- Lawyer (example: a lawyer)
If you are on this list, you can obtain a copy of a birth or marriage certificate from the public archives. at any time and without limitation in time.
Any other person (for example, an uncle, an aunt) cannot ask the communication of those documents before the following deadlines:
- 75 years from the date of the most recent document or document included in the file, if the person is alive
- Or 25 years from the date of the death of the person if the latter period is shorter
Warning
If the person is a minor, the time frames are different:
- 100 years from the date of the most recent document or document included in the file if the person is alive
- Or 25 years from the date of the death of the person if the latter period is shorter
Extract with filiation
You can obtain an extract of a marriage certificate with filiation, if you are one of the following:
- Person concerned by the act (provided he is of age) or his legal representative
- Spouse, wife or partner of Civil partnerships: titleContent
- Ascendant of the person concerned (parent, grandparent...)
- Descendant of the person concerned (child, grandchild)
- Lawyer (example: a lawyer)
If you are on this list, you can obtain a copy of a birth or marriage certificate from the public archives. at any time and without limitation in time.
Any other person (for example, an uncle, an aunt) cannot ask the communication of those documents before the following deadlines:
- 75 years from the date of the most recent document or document included in the file, if the person is alive
- Or 25 years from the date of the death of the person if the latter period is shorter
Warning
If the person is a minor, the time frames are different:
- 100 years from the date of the most recent document or document included in the file if the person is alive
- Or 25 years from the date of the death of the person if the latter period is shorter
Unrelated Extract
You can get an excerpt from a marriage certificate without filiation without having to justify your request.
Yes, the application for a marriage certificate shall be free.
Warning
there is no need to make your request on websites that ask you for financial compensation.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
If you live in France
Town HallIf you live abroad
Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)
Attention: the Central Civil Registry Service does not welcome any public.
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a Frenchman abroad
Only by mail to:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
You can apply for a civil status certificate through a online service.
For more information, you can:
- Go to diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 4 pm
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing - Email courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
FAQ
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