Legal Requirements To Get Married In Bermuda

• Blood tests and health certificates are NOT required.
• A "Notice of Intended Marriage" form must be completed in full and the original submitted to the Registrar General. The registry staff publishes this notice in two of the local newspapers. The license to marry is issued after 14 days from receipt of the notice by the Registrar, provided no formal objection has been raised to the marriage. The couple is not required to be resident during this time. The license to marry must be issued within three months of receipt of the notice by the Registrar General and remains valid for three months from the date of issue.
• Divorcees must provide copies of final divorce decrees with the "Notice of Intended Marriage" form.
• All minors under the age of 21 years must have the written consent of both parents, the surviving parent or legal guardian. There is space provided on the "Notice of Intended Marriage" form where the person(s) giving consent must sign.
• Where the person(s) is not a resident of Bermuda, he/she must sign the form before a notary public or attach a written form of consent witnessed by a notary public, with the completed "Notice of Intended Marriage" form.
• Divorced persons should be aware that they cannot be married in any of the Catholic churches in Bermuda. However, church weddings for divorcees can sometimes be arranged by special request with a minister at other churches such as the Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, A.M.E., etc.
• Catholics outside of Bermuda cannot be married in Catholic churches in Bermuda except under exceptional circumstances, such as people who have special family ties in Bermuda or who have previously lived in Bermuda. Contact the Bishop of Hamilton, P.O. Box HM 1191, Hamilton, HM EX, Bermuda.

Costs

The marriage application fee is $205.00; this covers the newspaper publications, license and one marriage certificate. Extra certificates can be ordered at an additional cost. A cashier's check or bank draft made payable to the Accountant General is required. Personal checks or postal orders are not accepted. Be aware that airmail to Bermuda often takes up to two weeks from the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.

The Fee and Notice can be sent or delivered personally to:

The Registrar General at the Government Administration Bldg.
30 Parliament Street
Hamilton HM 12
Bermuda
Tel: 441-297-7709 Fax: 441-292-4568

Forms are available from the Bermuda Department of Tourism offices in New York, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, and Toronto, as well as directly from the Registrar General in Bermuda.

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This article was contributed by Karen Hohlen.