From classic Technicolor dance scenes from An american in paris to more recent movies like Red windmill and Amelie PoulainFor many Americans, Paris is the epitome of romance. And what could be a more romantic place to get married? For most couples, after deciding to get married in Paris, the first thing they do is make a dizzying phone call, “so crazy this could work” to their local French consulate, where they are instantly brought back to earth for their first ” Non “French officer:” Mais, mademoiselle! It’s impossible! You must live in France for 40 days before you can get married in France. Impossible! Why are you calling me? Au revoir !! ” Click …. And for some couples, that will be it. In an instant they are taken straight to Plan B, their local country club with a Paris themed reception, don’t pass Go, don’t collect 200EUR …

However, some couples will want to carry out the dream; they can choose to have a legal ceremony in their own country and then come to Paris for a symbolic ceremony. Symbolic ceremonies are not legally binding, but they are as romantic and meaningful as you might imagine.

This article, however, is for the uncompromising, those couples who are ready to dance with the greats, run the gauntlet, fight the fight … Marrying legally in France as a foreigner will be one of the strongest tests. to his “partner” as has probably happened so far. Forget the fear factor of couples – if you can survive this, you can survive anything

The essentials of getting married in France

What the gruff embassy official told him is true. To be legally married in France, one of the bride and groom must have lived in France, in the district around the town hall where they plan to marry, for a minimum of 40 consecutive days prior to the wedding. Some sources say 30 days, but you must add an additional 10 days for the city council to publish the Banns, a public announcement that is placed at the City Hall during the 10 days before their marriage that lists their names and the date of their impending marriage. so that any estranged husband or wife has one last chance to find you before you get married.

However, before you ask for that sabbatical from work, you should know that this little detail is really important. You must show 2 separate documents showing your address in French (“proof of address“). For example, a gas or electricity bill (a cell phone bill does not count), a rent receipt, a lease, a French social security card, etc. term lease agreement to fulfill this marriage requirement, know that it may take several months before you receive any of the above documents. Another option is to live with a friend or relative, and have that person sign a honor accommodation certificate. This is a statement in which you swear that you have been living in that person’s residence and that they are responsible for you if you are a drug dealer or download “Desperate Housewives” illegally or something like that. There’s a ton of fine print in this case, including a huge fine and a short trip to the guillotine if it’s ever discovered that you did not, in fact, live with them.

If you can meet the 40-day requirement, the first thing to do is get the most recent list of required documents from the city council (city ​​Hall) in which you plan to get married. Most of these documents have specific deadlines by which they must be dated before they are sent, so it is important to get the list as soon as possible. Here is a general list of the documents you will need to get legally married in France. However, it is important (and I cannot stress this enough) that Get the official and most up-to-date mairie list of the district (district) you plan to marry..

1. A valid passport or a French residence permit (“residence permit“)

2. A birth certificate (“birth extract“): Most city councils require you to submit an original copy of a full birth certificate (with full details of your parents) issued within 3 months of your wedding date along with a sworn translation. You must obtain the translation of a sworn translator (“assermen translatort “). Sworn translators are listed in each” town hall “.

3. A certificate of celibacy (“certificate instead of declaration with a view to marrying or not remarryinge “) less than 3 months.

4. An affidavit of law (“usual certificatee “) Many municipalities request an Affidavit of Law (“Customs Certificate“) in addition to the Aliens’ Affidavit of Marital Status. The Law Affidavit certifies that the American citizen is free to marry in France and that the marriage will be recognized in the United States. Only an attorney licensed to practice both in France and the United States they can execute this document.

5. A medical certificate (“Physician certified prenuptiall “): Both must obtain a prenuptial medical certificate, stating that they were examined by a doctor”with a view to marriageand. “(Don’t get nervous girls, it’s just a standard checkup plus a couple of blood tests: blood type, syphilis, rubella and toxoplasmosis …) Marriage bans cannot be published until certificates have been submitted doctors to the city council Certificates must be dated no earlier than two months prior to the publication of the bans Any qualified physician can perform the medical examination (the US Embassy publishes a list of English-speaking physicians).

6. Proof of address (“proof of address“) (see above)

7. A “notary certificate“: If you are thinking of having a prenuptial agreement, you must go to a lawyer (notary) who will provide you with a” certificate du notaire “that must also be presented at the town hall. It must have been drawn up no more than 2 months before the marriage. Yes there are no prenuptial contracts, then you will marry under the community reduced to acquisitionss. This means that what each of you personally owned before marriage, or what comes to you later through inheritance, remains your individual property. Only what is acquired during the marriage is owned by both parties equally. (If you’ve ever seen or read Diane Johnson’s book The divorce, this scenario may seem very familiar …)

If either of you were previously married, you must provide a certified copy of the deceased spouse’s death certificate or a certified copy of the final divorce decree.

8. In addition to all of the above, you will also need to choose and provide information about your witnesses (“witnesses“) – 2 to 4 people who will act as your best men and / or maid of honor, and will sign the registry after the marriage ceremony. You will need to provide their names, addresses, professions and photocopies of their passports with their portfolio.

All of this must be submitted to the Mairie in time for them to verify and approve your documents before publishing the Banns; they usually request your full marriage file 10 days prior to posting, but I generally suggest that my clients submit their folders Before that, gruff officials will almost always insist a document is missing, sending you into another frenzy of frantic phone calls and emails.

When everything has been accepted and approved, you will receive a notice from the Mairie of your wedding date and time (you can request a specific date and time in advance, but they will assure you that nothing will be confirmed until the file has been approved). Please note that you must be legally married in a civil ceremony before you are allowed to have a Catholic Church ceremony in France.. After your civil ceremony, you will receive a “Family Book“(Family book) a kind of marriage certificate that also has pages for all your future children. This little blue book is the Holy Grail. If you live in France, this book will make your administrative life here much easier until the day of your death (in which your death will be noted in said blue book).

Getting married in a foreign country is rarely easy. A Parisian wedding is a bit more difficult than that. But if you’re willing and able, the lasting memory of exchanging your vows under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower or in the cobbled corridors of a century-old castle is worth the few months of frustration.