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Getting
Married
You can make your dreams of a tropical wedding a reality
in Montserrat, but there are certain conditions which
must be fulfilled:
For persons wishing to marry in Montserrat, there are
three certificates which can be granted before the marriage
can be performed: a) the special or Governor’s Licence,
b) certificates of due publication of banns and c) the
Registrar General’s certificate.
a) a minimum stay of three working days in Montserrat
is required before application can be made to obtain a
special or Governor’s Marriage Licence. This licence is
the most appealing to most visitors as it does not entail
an extended waiting period.
b) banns however, must be published for three Sundays
before the certificate is issued, while c) for the Registrar’s
certificate; a notice has to be posted for twenty-one
days.
Application for the special or Governor’s licence is made
through the Department of Administration.
Applicants must have the following documents:
Marriage Application Form (issued by the Department of
Administration),
Passports of both parties, Original Absolute Divorce Decree
(if divorced), Original Death Certificate of deceased
spouse (if widowed),
Non-Marriage Certificate (if applicable).
These must all be ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS and must be presented
when the application form is submitted.
- All
applicants under the age of eighteen years would need
written parental consent for the marriage to take place.
- No
blood test or medical certificate is required.
- Any
documents presented in any language apart from English
must be presented with a certified translation into
the English language.
- Processing
of the application takes approximately three working
days to one week.
- The
cost of the licence is EC$ 200.00, which must be paid
in Montserrat stamps.
The Application Form is obtainable in Montserrat but may
be sent to the applicant in advance. Applicants must complete
the form and have it certified before submission.
Applications must state when they wish to be married,
the type of ceremony, i.e. religious or civil, and the
venue, if they choose a civil ceremony (i.e. performed
by the Registrar)
Persons wishing to marry in Montserrat by special or Governor’s
licence should contact the Department of Administration
soon after their arrival on island so that they can be
properly advised.
The, major religions on the island (Anglican, Roman Catholic,
Methodist, etc) all require that the couple receive several
hours of religious marriage counselling- for some religions
up to at least three months of counselling. In some cases
this counselling may preferably be done in the couple’s
hometown but permission to do so should be sought. Also,
all necessary documentation certifying that a properly
ordained Minister of Religion has done the required counselling
must be submitted. In the case of the Roman Catholic,
this communication must be from Bishop to Bishop.
performance of the ceremony on Montserrat, but exceptions
do exist. A donation may be offered to the church if you
desire. Many churches also prefer not to marry divorced
persons, but as an alternative, the Registrar can perform
a civil ceremony. If you wish to be married by a Minister
of Religion, you are advised to make these necessary queries
to clarify all this pertinent information.
A Marriage may be performed by a Marriage Officer between
the hours of six in the morning and eight in the evening.
6. If the couple should choose to be married in a civil
ceremony, the Registrar will perform the ceremony. Enquiries
can be made at the Registrar’s Office, Government Headquarters,
Brades, Montserrat.
- A
Marriage may be performed by the Registrar-General between
the hours of ten in the morning and three in the afternoon.
- The
Registrar or the Marriage Officer will decide whether
an interpreter is necessary.
- The
couple will then be issued with a duplicate copy of
the registration. The official certificate can be obtained
from the Registrar’s Office within one week of the ceremony.
7. A copy of the signed registration of marriage is given
to the couple after the ceremony, but the official marriage
certificate must be obtained at the Registry at a fee
of $20.00, in Montserrat stamps. Please ensure that you
get your certificate before leaving the island.
8 All mail should be directed to, and enquiries made at
the Department of Administration, Government Headquarters,
Brades, Montserrat, West Indies. The Department’s hours
are 8:00am to 4:00pm. Enquiries can also be made at the
Tourist Board, P.O. Box 7, Salem, Montserrat, West Indies.
PLEASE
REMEMBER THAT ALL DOCUMENTS PRESENTED MUST BE ORIGINALS.
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