Required Documents for Marriage in the Catholic Church

• Baptismal certificates of both parties (even non-Catholics) issued no earlier than six months prior to the wedding. (If these are absolutely not available, due to a fire or other viable reasons, a sworn statement may suffice.)

• Marriage license from the civil registrar's office, which includes the application of the two parties (sometimes called the “long form”). This is obtainable from your local government; visit your county website under "marriage licenses."

• Letter of freedom of pastors and parents.

• Permission of parents if a party is under eighteen years of age.

• Certificate of completion of a marriage preparation process.

• For widows and widowers, an authentic certificate of death of their departed spouses with whom they were married and a marriage certificate of the previous wedding.

• Declaration of Nullity, if previously married.