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Marriage in France
Verified 11 October 2023 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Justice
You want to get married? Whether you are a couple of different sex or of the same sex, you must meet certain conditions and file a file in the city hall. We guide you in your approach.
What applies to you ?
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You are single or divorced or widowed
Two people, of different or same sex, must meet certain conditions to get married.
Age
You must be of age to marry, i.e. at least 18 years of age.
If you are a minor, you may exceptionally be allowed to marry.
You must have the following permissions:
- Age exemption granted by the public prosecutor for serious reasons
- At least one of your parents agreed
Unrelated
The marriage is forbidden when a very close link exists.
Consent
Each of you 2 must give his free and informed consent at the wedding.
If consent is not free and informed, the wedding can be canceled at the request of one of the following persons:
- You or your future husband
- Public Prosecutor
The request for cancelation must be made in a maximum period of 5 years.
The wedding is celebrated in a commune with which at least one of you 2 has a lasting bond.
The link can be with one of the following municipalities:
- That of the domicile or the residence from one of you two
- The home or residence of a parent (parent) of one of you 2
The registrar ensure that at least one of the persons concerned has lasting links with the municipality.
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Municipality of the home
The wedding can be celebrated in the commune where one of you 2 has domicile.
Municipality of residence
The wedding can be celebrated in the commune where one of you 2 has his residence.
This residence may be a primary or secondary residence.
Residence must be established by at least 1 month of continuous housing on the date of publication of the reports.
Common of a parent
The wedding can be celebrated in one of the following municipalities:
- Municipality of the home of one of the parents (father or mother) of one of you 2
- Municipality of the main residence of one of your parents
- Municipality of the secondary residence of one of your parents
Special rules are provided for in certain situations.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You're a same-sex couple and you live abroad
You are future same-sex spouses and you reside in a country that does not allow your marriage.
You can get married in one of the following municipalities:
- French commune of your birth or last residence
- French commune in which one of your parents has his home or residence
If no commune meets these criteria, you can marry in the French commune of your choice.
You are all 2 foreigners and you do not live in France
Whether you are a couple of different sex or of the same sex, if you are all 2 foreigners and you do not live in France, know that the marriage in France of a foreigner couple is possible only in the following locations:
- Consulate of your country of origin
- Municipality of overseas collectivity (Com) or New Caledonia
Documents to be provided by the future spouses
Check which documents you need to provide to build your marriage record.
For this, you must use the simulator next:
Review documents to be provided
FYI
You must provide the original of each document requested.
Each of you 2 shall provide the following documents:
- ID (original and photocopy). Depending on your situation, this may be an identity card, passport, driving license, resident card, residence card or any other document with a photograph issued by a public authority
- Proof of domicile or residence dated more than 1 month (rental lease, rent receipt, water, electricity or gas bill, tax or non-tax notice, attestation France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi), attestation from the employer, etc.)
Please note
Mobile phone bills and RIB: titleContent are not allowed.
In some situations, other documents may be accepted:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
One of you two is homeless
You must submit a certificate of address for service valid.
One of you two is incarcerated
If you do not have proof of residence, you can, in exceptional cases, make yourself a resident at the prison where you are detained.
FYI
The marriage of a detained person is celebrated within the prison, on the requisition of the public prosecutor.
You or your future spouse do not have to providebirth certificate if your marriage commune can directly access your civil status data from your municipality of birth.
In practice, first of all, go to town hall, you must contact your marriage municipality to provide the following information:
- Your surname, first name(s), gender, date and municipality of birth
- Your parents' surnames and first names
This information allows your marriage commune to verify your civil status data with your commune of birth.
Please note
Access to your marital status data by your marriage municipality is not immediate.
The process depends on where your birth certificate was issued:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Birth certificate issued in France
General case
If your marriage municipality does not have access to your civil status data at your birth municipality, you must provide a birth certificate with indication of the parentage of less than 3 months.
The starting point of the period of validity of the birth certificate is calculated in relation to on the day the marriage is filed, and not on the day of the celebration. It is this deposit that determines the publication of the tapes.
Please note
If your marital status or that of your future spouse has changed before the marriage is celebrated (for example, a change of first name), you must give a copy of the updated document to the registrar responsible for celebrating the marriage.
You are French born abroad
You must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of less than 3 months.
The starting point of the period of validity of the birth certificate is calculated in relation to on the day the marriage is filed, and not on the day of the celebration. It is this deposit that determines the publication of the tapes.
You must apply for your birth certificate from the Central Civil Registry Service.
You can use the following teleservice:
Application for birth certificate: full copy or extract (birth abroad) - Free service
Please note
If your marital status or that of your future spouse has changed before the marriage is celebrated (for example, a change of first name), you must give a copy of the updated document to the registrar responsible for celebrating the marriage.
You are a refugee or stateless person
If you are a refugee or stateless person, you must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of less than 3 months.
The 3-month period is calculated in relation to on the day the marriage is filed, and not on the day of its celebration. It is this deposit that determines the publication of the tapes.
You must request the document from theOfpra: titleContent, who has issued the certificate that is your birth certificate.
You can use the following teleservice:
Refugee/stateless person: application to Ofpra for a copy or extract of a civil status document
Please note
If your marital status or that of your future spouse has changed before the marriage is celebrated (for example, a change of first name), you must give a copy of the updated document to the registrar responsible for celebrating the marriage.
Birth certificate issued abroad
Act drawn up in a country of the European Union
You must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of Maximum 6 months.
Who shall I contact
The starting point of the period of validity of the birth certificate is calculated in relation to on the day the marriage is filed, and not on the day of its celebration. It is this deposit that determines the publication of the tapes.
No time limit shall be imposed if the birth certificate was issued in a country which does not provide for the updating of birth certificates. In this case, you must provide a certificate issued by your embassy or consulate (or other authorized authority of your country of origin) stating that this is not updated.
If the document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
It is possible to provide multilingual birth certificate.
Please note
If your marital status or that of your future spouse has changed before the marriage is celebrated, you must give a copy of the updated document to the registrar responsible for celebrating the marriage.
Act drawn up in another country
You must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of Maximum 6 months.
Who shall I contact
The starting point of the period of validity of the birth certificate is calculated in relation to on the day the marriage is filed, and not on the day of its celebration. It is this deposit that determines the publication of the tapes.
No time limit shall be imposed if the birth certificate was issued in a country which does not provide for the updating of birth certificates. In this case, you must provide a certificate issued by your embassy or consulate (or other authorized authority of your country of origin) stating that this is not updated.
If the document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
It is possible to provide multilingual birth certificate.
Depending on the country of origin, the following formalities may also be necessary:
- Apostille
- Legalization
Nationals of certain countries are exempted from these additional formalities (e.g. Switzerland).
Please note
If your marital status or that of your future spouse has changed before the marriage is celebrated, you must give a copy of the updated document to the registrar responsible for celebrating the marriage.
Depending on your situation, you must provide additional documents :
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You or your future husband are a foreigner
General case
The City Hall may ask you to provide documents specific to your nationality.
These documents are as follows:
- Certificate of custom
- Certificate of celibacy (or marital capacity)
The certificate of custom is usually provided by your embassy or consulate. It shall specify the following:
- Foreign rules applicable to marriage
- Document proving your marital status
- A document that proves you are not already married
If your country of origin does not issue a certificate of custom, you must provide a certificate from the competent authorities of the foreigner country specifying this. You must also provide a certificate issued by a lawyer or a lawyer specifying the rules applicable to marriage in your country of origin.
If this is not possible, you must provide an attestation on the honor indicating that you are an adult, unmarried and legally capable.
Certificate of celibacy (or marital capacity) is asked when your country cannot provide you with up-to-date documents. It is usually provided by your embassy or consulate. He proves you're not already married.
If a document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
You can inquire at the city hall and the consulate.
Please note
If you cannot provide the necessary information, the registrar must inform you that your marriage may not be recognized in your country of origin.
You are a refugee or stateless person
You do not have to provide a custom certificate.
FYI
The registrar should not approach or invite you to approach the authorities of your home state.
You're signing a marriage contract
If a marriage contract is concluded, you must provide the notary's certificate.
Who shall I contact
You or your future husband are divorced
If your divorce is not mentioned on your birth certificate, you must provide one of the following documents:
- Final divorce decision
- Family booklet corresponding to the former union with mention of divorce
If the final divorce decision was made abroad, you must attach your translation by a sworn translator.
You or your future spouse are widowed
You must provide additional parts, for example, the death certificate or the birth certificate (with mention of death) of the deceased spouse.
If a document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
Depending on the country of origin, the following formalities may also be necessary:
- Apostille
- Legalization
Nationals of certain countries are exempted from these additional formalities (e.g. Switzerland).
You or your future spouse are subject to a legal protection measure (guardianship, guardianship, safeguarding of justice, family entitlement)
If you or your future spouse are the subject of a legal protection measure (guardianship, trusteeship, safeguard of justice or family entitlement), you must, before marriage, inform the person in charge of the protection measure (e.g. your guardian if you are a guardian or your curator if you are a guardian).
You must provide a proof of this information.
FYI
No authorization from the judge or the person in charge of the protection measure is necessary to marry you.
Neither you nor your future spouse are residents of your marriage commune
Your wedding can be celebrated in the municipality of the domicile or residence (principal or secondary) of a parent of one of you 2.
You must provide a proof of domicile or residence dated more than 1 month (rental lease, rent receipt, water, electricity or gas bill, tax or non-tax notice, France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi) certificate, employer certificate, etc.).
Please note
Mobile phone bills and RIB: titleContent are not allowed.
Documents to be provided by witnesses
For each of your witnesses, you must provide the following information:
- Name
- First Name
- Date and place of birth
- Occupation
- Home
- Copy of identity document
You must submit the file to the municipality of the municipality chosen for the ceremony.
Check with the city hall if you need to make an appointment.
The registrar auditions you two together.
If he considers it necessary, he may ask also individual interviews with both.
This hearing is obligatory. But it does not occur in the following cases:
- Not possible (for example, due to illness)
- The registrar does not consider it necessary
The officer may request the presence of a translator or interpreter (at your expense if paid) if you or your future spouse are in any of the following situations:
- Deaf, dumb
- Does not understand French
If you or your future spouse resides abroad, the hearing can be conducted by the competent diplomatic or consular authority.
Before and after the hearing, the city hall cannot refuse a marriage file.
But she can ask the public prosecutor prohibit the solemnization of the desired marriage (for example, in the case of suspicion of a white marriage).
The announcement of the marriage is made by the publication of the bans.
They're notices posted at the gate of the town hall by the registrar.
They shall contain the following information:
- Given names, surname, occupation, domicile or residence of each of you 2
- Place where the wedding is to be celebrated
They are displayed for 10 days at the gate of the following town halls:
- Mayor of the wedding
- Town hall where you or your future spouse have your home
Please note
You can request a publication waiver from the public prosecutor in the case of serious grounds.
Marriage cannot be celebrated until the 10the the day following the publication of the reports.
Example :
If the bans are published on June 4, 2023, the wedding can be celebrated from June 14, 2023.
The day of the celebration of the wedding is fixed in agreement with the town hall and future spouses, provided that the marriage record is complete and up to date.
The marriage must be celebrated within one year of the expiration of the 10-day period.
FYI
It is forbidden to celebrate a religious marriage before civil marriage.
Location
Marriage must be celebrated to the town hall, in a room open to the public.
The mayor may celebrate the marriage in any communal building (e.g. a party room), provided that the building is located in the territory of the commune. But the public prosecutor may object to it.
In case ofserious impediment of you or of your future spouse, the registrar may, at the request of the public prosecutor, travel to one of the following places:
- Your home or residence
- A hospital or health care facility
He can move without this request in case of life-threatening risk.
Marriage can also be celebrated in a penal institution.
Process
The celebration must be done by the mayor or a deputy, in the presence of you 2 and your witnesses.
During the celebration, each of you 2 confirms his commitment to respect the obligations of marriage.
A translator-interpreter may be present.
One family record book is delivered to you.
In the days that follow, you can ask the city hall for a extract or a full copy of the marriage certificate.
Please note
If you and your future spouse had children together before your marriage and already have a family record, this booklet will be updated with the marriage certificate.
Once married, you can use the name of your spouse or partner as your last name.
You are currently on a pass
If you are hired by a Civil partnerships: titleContentNo, you can get married.
Marriage is possible in the following situations:
- With your past partner
- With another person
Marriage automatically dissolves Civil partnerships.
To get married, you and your future spouse must meet certain conditions.
These conditions are the same whether you are a couple of different sex or of the same sex.
Age
You must be of age to marry, i.e. at least 18 years of age.
If you are a minor, you may exceptionally be allowed to marry.
You must have the following permissions:
- Age exemption granted by the public prosecutor for serious reasons
- At least one of your parents agreed
Unrelated
The marriage is forbidden when a very close link exists.
Consent
Each of you 2 must give his free and informed consent at the wedding.
If consent is not free and informed, the wedding can be canceled at the request of one of the following persons:
- You or your future husband
- Public Prosecutor
The request for cancelation must be made in a maximum period of 5 years.
The wedding is celebrated in a commune with which at least one of you 2 has a lasting bond.
The link can be with one of the following municipalities:
- That of the domicile or the residence from one of you two
- The home or residence of a parent (parent) of one of you 2
The registrar ensure that at least one of the persons concerned has lasting links with the municipality.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Municipality of the home
The wedding can be celebrated in the commune where one of you 2 has domicile.
Municipality of residence
The wedding can be celebrated in the commune where one of you 2 has his residence.
This residence may be a primary or secondary residence.
Residence must be established by at least 1 month of continuous housing on the date of publication of the reports.
Common of a parent
The wedding can be celebrated in one of the following municipalities:
- Municipality of the home of one of the parents (father or mother) of one of you 2
- Municipality of the main residence of one of your parents
- Municipality of the secondary residence of one of your parents
Special rules are provided for in certain situations.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You're a same-sex couple and you live abroad
You are future same-sex spouses and you reside in a country that does not allow your marriage.
You can get married in one of the following municipalities:
- French commune of your birth or last residence
- French commune in which one of your parents has his home or residence
If no commune meets these criteria, you can marry in the French commune of your choice.
You are all 2 foreigners and you do not live in France
Whether you are a couple of different sex or of the same sex, if you are all 2 foreigners and you do not live in France, know that the marriage in France of a foreigner couple is possible only in the following locations:
- Consulate of your country of origin
- Municipality of overseas collectivity (Com) or New Caledonia
Documents to be provided by the future spouses
Check which documents you need to provide to build your marriage record.
For this, you must use the simulator next:
Review documents to be provided
FYI
You must provide the original of each document requested.
Each of you 2 shall provide the following documents:
- ID (original and photocopy). Depending on your situation, this may be an identity card, passport, driving license, resident card, residence card or any other document with a photograph issued by a public authority
- Proof of domicile or residence dated more than 1 month (rental lease, rent receipt, water, electricity or gas bill, tax or non-tax notice, attestation France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi), attestation from the employer, etc.)
Please note
Mobile phone bills and RIB: titleContent are not allowed.
In some situations, other documents may be accepted:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
One of you two is homeless
You must submit a certificate of address for service valid.
One of you two is incarcerated
If you do not have proof of residence, you can, in exceptional cases, make yourself a resident at the prison where you are detained.
FYI
The marriage of a detained person is celebrated within the prison, on the requisition of the public prosecutor.
You or your future spouse do not have to providebirth certificate if your marriage commune can directly access your civil status data from your municipality of birth.
In practice, first of all, go to town hall, you must contact your marriage municipality to provide the following information:
- Your surname, first name(s), gender, date and municipality of birth
- Your parents' surnames and first names
This information allows your marriage commune to verify your civil status data with your commune of birth.
Please note
Access to your marital status data by your marriage municipality is not immediate.
The process depends on where your birth certificate was issued:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Birth certificate issued in France
General case
If your marriage municipality does not have access to your civil status data at your birth municipality, you must provide a birth certificate with indication of the parentage of less than 3 months.
The starting point of the period of validity of the birth certificate is calculated in relation to on the day the marriage is filed, and not on the day of the celebration. It is this deposit that determines the publication of the tapes.
Please note
If your marital status or that of your future spouse has changed before the marriage is celebrated (for example, a change of first name), you must give a copy of the updated document to the registrar responsible for celebrating the marriage.
You are French born abroad
You must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of less than 3 months.
The starting point of the period of validity of the birth certificate is calculated in relation to on the day the marriage is filed, and not on the day of the celebration. It is this deposit that determines the publication of the tapes.
You must apply for your birth certificate from the Central Civil Registry Service.
You can use the following teleservice:
Application for birth certificate: full copy or extract (birth abroad) - Free service
Please note
If your marital status or that of your future spouse has changed before the marriage is celebrated (for example, a change of first name), you must give a copy of the updated document to the registrar responsible for celebrating the marriage.
You are a refugee or stateless person
If you are a refugee or stateless person, you must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of less than 3 months.
The 3-month period is calculated in relation to on the day the marriage is filed, and not on the day of its celebration. It is this deposit that determines the publication of the tapes.
You must request the document from theOfpra: titleContent, who has issued the certificate that is your birth certificate.
You can use the following teleservice:
Refugee/stateless person: application to Ofpra for a copy or extract of a civil status document
Please note
If your marital status or that of your future spouse has changed before the marriage is celebrated (for example, a change of first name), you must give a copy of the updated document to the registrar responsible for celebrating the marriage.
Birth certificate issued abroad
Act drawn up in a country of the European Union
You must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of Maximum 6 months.
Who shall I contact
The starting point of the period of validity of the birth certificate is calculated in relation to on the day the marriage is filed, and not on the day of its celebration. It is this deposit that determines the publication of the tapes.
No time limit shall be imposed if the birth certificate was issued in a country which does not provide for the updating of birth certificates. In this case, you must provide a certificate issued by your embassy or consulate (or other authorized authority of your country of origin) stating that this is not updated.
If the document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
It is possible to provide multilingual birth certificate.
Please note
If your marital status or that of your future spouse has changed before the marriage is celebrated, you must give a copy of the updated document to the registrar responsible for celebrating the marriage.
Act drawn up in another country
You must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of Maximum 6 months.
Who shall I contact
The starting point of the period of validity of the birth certificate is calculated in relation to on the day the marriage is filed, and not on the day of its celebration. It is this deposit that determines the publication of the tapes.
No time limit shall be imposed if the birth certificate was issued in a country which does not provide for the updating of birth certificates. In this case, you must provide a certificate issued by your embassy or consulate (or other authorized authority of your country of origin) stating that this is not updated.
If the document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
It is possible to provide multilingual birth certificate.
Depending on the country of origin, the following formalities may also be necessary:
- Apostille
- Legalization
Nationals of certain countries are exempted from these additional formalities (e.g. Switzerland).
Please note
If your marital status or that of your future spouse has changed before the marriage is celebrated, you must give a copy of the updated document to the registrar responsible for celebrating the marriage.
Depending on your situation, you must provide additional documents :
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You or your future husband are a foreigner
General case
The City Hall may ask you to provide documents specific to your nationality.
These documents are as follows:
- Certificate of custom
- Certificate of celibacy (or marital capacity)
The certificate of custom is usually provided by your embassy or consulate. It shall specify the following:
- Foreign rules applicable to marriage
- Document proving your marital status
- A document that proves you are not already married
If your country of origin does not issue a certificate of custom, you must provide a certificate from the competent authorities of the foreigner country specifying this. You must also provide a certificate issued by a lawyer or a lawyer specifying the rules applicable to marriage in your country of origin.
If this is not possible, you must provide an attestation on the honor indicating that you are an adult, unmarried and legally capable.
Certificate of celibacy (or marital capacity) is asked when your country cannot provide you with up-to-date documents. It is usually provided by your embassy or consulate. He proves you're not already married.
If a document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
You can inquire at the city hall and the consulate.
Please note
If you cannot provide the necessary information, the registrar must inform you that your marriage may not be recognized in your country of origin.
You are a refugee or stateless person
You do not have to provide a custom certificate.
FYI
The registrar should not approach or invite you to approach the authorities of your home state.
You're signing a marriage contract
If a marriage contract is concluded, you must provide the notary's certificate.
Who shall I contact
You or your future husband are divorced
If your divorce is not mentioned on your birth certificate, you must provide one of the following documents:
- Final divorce decision
- Family booklet corresponding to the former union with mention of divorce
If the final divorce decision was made abroad, you must attach your translation by a sworn translator.
You or your future spouse are widowed
You must provide additional parts, for example, the death certificate or the birth certificate (with mention of death) of the deceased spouse.
If a document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
Depending on the country of origin, the following formalities may also be necessary:
- Apostille
- Legalization
Nationals of certain countries are exempted from these additional formalities (e.g. Switzerland).
You or your future spouse are subject to a legal protection measure (guardianship, guardianship, safeguarding of justice, family entitlement)
If you or your future spouse are the subject of a legal protection measure (guardianship, trusteeship, safeguard of justice or family entitlement), you must, before marriage, inform the person in charge of the protection measure (e.g. your guardian if you are a guardian or your curator if you are a guardian).
You must provide a proof of this information.
FYI
No authorization from the judge or the person in charge of the protection measure is necessary to marry you.
Neither you nor your future spouse are residents of your marriage commune
Your wedding can be celebrated in the municipality of the domicile or residence (principal or secondary) of a parent of one of you 2.
You must provide a proof of domicile or residence dated more than 1 month (rental lease, rent receipt, water, electricity or gas bill, tax or non-tax notice, France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi) certificate, employer certificate, etc.).
Please note
Mobile phone bills and RIB: titleContent are not allowed.
Documents to be provided by witnesses
For each of your witnesses, you must provide the following information:
- Name
- First Name
- Date and place of birth
- Occupation
- Home
- Copy of identity document
The file must be submitted to the municipality of the municipality chosen for the ceremony.
Check with the city hall if you need to make an appointment.
The registrar auditions you two together.
If he considers it necessary, he may ask also individual interviews with both.
This hearing is obligatory. But it does not occur in the following cases:
- Not possible (for example, due to illness)
- The registrar does not consider it necessary
The officer may request the presence of a translator or interpreter (at your expense if paid) if you or your future spouse are in any of the following situations:
- Deaf, dumb
- Does not understand French
If you or your future spouse resides abroad, the hearing can be conducted by the competent diplomatic or consular authority.
Before and after the hearing, the city hall cannot refuse a marriage file.
But she can ask the public prosecutor prohibit the solemnization of the desired marriage (for example, in the case of suspicion of a white marriage).
The announcement of the marriage is made by the publication of the bans.
They're notices posted at the gate of the town hall by the registrar.
They shall contain the following information:
- Given names, surname, occupation, domicile or residence of each of you 2
- Place where the wedding is to be celebrated
They are displayed for 10 days at the gate of the following town halls:
- Mayor of the wedding
- Town hall where you or your future spouse have your home
Please note
You can request a publication waiver from the public prosecutor in the case of serious grounds.
Marriage cannot be celebrated until the 10the the day following the publication of the reports.
Example :
If the bans are published on June 4, 2023, the wedding can be celebrated from June 14, 2023.
The day of the celebration of the wedding is fixed in agreement with the town hall and future spouses, provided that the marriage record is complete and up to date.
The marriage must be celebrated within one year of the expiration of the 10-day period.
FYI
It is forbidden to celebrate a religious marriage before civil marriage.
Location
Marriage must be celebrated to the town hall, in a room open to the public.
The mayor may celebrate the marriage in any communal building (e.g. a party room), provided that the building is located in the territory of the commune. But the public prosecutor may object to it.
In case ofserious impediment of you or of your future spouse, the registrar may, at the request of the public prosecutor, travel to one of the following places:
- Your home or residence
- A hospital or health care facility
He can move without this request in case of life-threatening risk.
Marriage can also be celebrated in a penal institution.
Process
The celebration must be done by the mayor or a deputy, in the presence of you 2 and your witnesses.
During the celebration, each of you 2 confirms his commitment to respect the obligations of marriage.
A translator-interpreter may be present.
One family record book is delivered to you.
In the days that follow, you can ask the city hall for a extract or a full copy of the marriage certificate.
Please note
If you and your future spouse had children together before your marriage and already have a family record, this booklet will be updated with the marriage certificate.
Once married, you can use the name of your spouse or partner as your last name.
You're already married
If you're already married, you can't marry a twoe time.
This prohibition applies in the following 2 situations:
- Married according to French law
- Married according to a foreign law
Warning
If you are in the process of divorce or legal separation, you are considered married.
Review documents to be provided
Marriage certificates
Qualifications and requirements for entering into marriage
Formalities relating to the solemnization of marriage
Dissolution of Civil partnerships by marriage (Article 515-7)
Wedding hall (article L2121-30-1)
Hearing of future spouses (Article 35)
Marriage of 2 persons of foreign nationality not residing in France
Municipality of the domicile or residence of one of the parents of the spouses
Simulator
FAQ
Service-Public.fr
Service-Public.fr
Notaries of Europe
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs