Civil wedding in Manila

[Anna and Jeff 3]

Greetings again. J and I (I am from Sta. Ana, Manila) are planning to have civil wedding here in Manila hopefully this year and as far as the requirements go, I think we are good. He will be here in the Philippines for about 20 days (I'm extremely happy as well since this will be our first time to spend the holidays together).

I was wondering if there are couples on here who got married (civil wedding) at Manila City Hall? Was it quite difficult to apply for a marriage license and finding someone to officiate the wedding? Is the marriage license as well as marriage certificate among other (ceremony included) fees different than when one marries the same race? (I hear a resounding yes lol but still..) I hope you could help us about this matter and the things we really need to know about civil marriage (apart from what's been provided by the family code of the Philippines).

Kindest regards to everyone and thanks in advance.

[dale_trisha 3]

Trisha and my experience was in Makati. I had a filippino friend check on all the requirements and processes ahead of time for me and the price we paid was the same. I did get an extra grilling by the Civil Registar about by divorce decree and how could they tell if it was final. Since your fiancee is only there for 20 days it is best to know all your requirements and have everything ready to go. Day 1 he goes to US Embassy to get his letter, you can accompany him. Then go the City Hall and get your license started. Wait 10 days......

Best of luck

[o0pink0o 3]

hi there, i am from Valenzuela City. I once inquired about marriage fees in Manila City Hall (caz that was my first option on where to held our civil wedding) but i was shocked caz they asked me 15K for everything ( marriage seminars, marriage license, marriage contract, judge fee, red ribbon etc. and sila ang bahala magasikaso lahat) so i decided to inquire in Valenzuela to see the difference and that is where i discovered na Php50 lng pla ang application sa marriage license and ang judge fee is only Php500 so see? ang laki ng kickback nila at buti na lang at naginquire ako hehe but those prices are way back 2 years ago pa so i am not sure kung nagchange na ang fees.

Good Luck and be careful sa fixers ha

Edited November 5, 2008 by o0pink0o

[Anna and Jeff 3]

Thanks again o0pink0o and dale and trish for your kind replies. God bless

[wiz1205 0]

Greetings again. J and I (I am from Sta. Ana, Manila) are planning to have civil wedding here in Manila hopefully this year and as far as the requirements go, I think we are good. He will be here in the Philippines for about 20 days (I'm extremely happy as well since this will be our first time to spend the holidays together).

I was wondering if there are couples on here who got married (civil wedding) at Manila City Hall? Was it quite difficult to apply for a marriage license and finding someone to officiate the wedding? Is the marriage license as well as marriage certificate among other (ceremony included) fees different than when one marries the same race? (I hear a resounding yes lol but still..) I hope you could help us about this matter and the things we really need to know about civil marriage (apart from what's been provided by the family code of the Philippines).

Kindest regards to everyone and thanks in advance.

HI Anna and Jeff,

Don't forget to get your "legal capacity to marry" from the US embassy. I was at the embassy for just an hour. Very quick process.

Andy

[abbielovesjeremy 5]

yeah he should get his legal capacity to marry at the US embassy as soon as he gets here. he can get them M-F 7am-10am only. then go straight to city hall and apply for a marriage license. he will need his passport, BC, divorce decree if he's been married before, the legal capacity to marry from USEM and ID picture. while you will need your NSO ceritified BC, CENOMAR, ID picture. hm... what else? guys feel free to add whatever i forgot to say fees differ tho. in las pinas it was barely 400 pesos. in calamba barely 500 for all the fees. i dunno about the officiating officer tho. i was told that if it's a judge you don't need to pay them anything. my mom's friend's sisters are judges and when i inquired with one of them before that's what she said, you DON'T pay additional fees for the judge to officiate the civil ceremony. but it differs i guess. oh and since your SO is a foreigner, you can expect them raising their fees ten-fold lol i know when i asked in malolos bulacan i was quoted 25k! imagine that! geez! some people are just waayyy too corrupt and greedy. it's sad

i digress, sorry so anyways back to your question, normally applying for a marriage license is easy. just the fees vary. i suggest that if you have time go there yourself and ask the civil registrar clerk about the requirements so that whatever questions you have can be readily answered. oh also there's a 10 day waiting period before you can get your marriage license. that's calendar days and not working days. there was a post here from a VJer that a clerk told him (he's the foreigner) that it's 10 WORKING days then later admitted she was wrong *sigh*

[Rocky_nBullwinkle 6]

Greetings again. J and I (I am from Sta. Ana, Manila) are planning to have civil wedding here in Manila hopefully this year and as far as the requirements go, I think we are good. He will be here in the Philippines for about 20 days (I'm extremely happy as well since this will be our first time to spend the holidays together).

I was wondering if there are couples on here who got married (civil wedding) at Manila City Hall? Was it quite difficult to apply for a marriage license and finding someone to officiate the wedding? Is the marriage license as well as marriage certificate among other (ceremony included) fees different than when one marries the same race? (I hear a resounding yes lol but still..) I hope you could help us about this matter and the things we really need to know about civil marriage (apart from what's been provided by the family code of the Philippines).

Kindest regards to everyone and thanks in advance.

Don't get marry in Manila City Hall. They're gonna eat you alive there them employees. They charge more if you are an alien marrying a Pinay.

[JoBri 547]

Greetings again. J and I (I am from Sta. Ana, Manila) are planning to have civil wedding here in Manila hopefully this year and as far as the requirements go, I think we are good. He will be here in the Philippines for about 20 days (I'm extremely happy as well since this will be our first time to spend the holidays together).

I was wondering if there are couples on here who got married (civil wedding) at Manila City Hall? Was it quite difficult to apply for a marriage license and finding someone to officiate the wedding? Is the marriage license as well as marriage certificate among other (ceremony included) fees different than when one marries the same race? (I hear a resounding yes lol but still..) I hope you could help us about this matter and the things we really need to know about civil marriage (apart from what's been provided by the family code of the Philippines).

Kindest regards to everyone and thanks in advance.

Me and my wife, Josephine, got married in Quezon City City City Hall. I had only 10 days I could be there for the visit, so...

She went to City Hall and got the marriage license application. She mailed it to me after completing her part of it. I had to have it notarized first, then had to have the county clerk sign off on it. Then it had to go to the State Department in Nashville, Tennessee and be authenticated. Then after they sent it back to me I had to send it to the Philippines consul in Washington, DC, wehre they also authenticated it, then returned to me. Then I sent it back to Josephine, and she took it back to City Hall whre it was put on display for the required 10 days.

When I arrived in the Philippines, she never told me that the law had changed and the requirement became that you had to be in country longer than I could stay. She kept that secret, and chose to believe that if God wanted us together, it would still be possible. Well... city hall lifted that requirement in our case! They simply ignored the law! Wow... amazing. She only told me about this after we were married.

Anyways, on my 2nd day there we went to the US Embassy, and I got the paper I needed to be free to marry. The next day, my 3rd day there, we got married...

sigh

I love her

Greetings again. J and I (I am from Sta. Ana, Manila) are planning to have civil wedding here in Manila hopefully this year and as far as the requirements go, I think we are good. He will be here in the Philippines for about 20 days (I'm extremely happy as well since this will be our first time to spend the holidays together).

I was wondering if there are couples on here who got married (civil wedding) at Manila City Hall? Was it quite difficult to apply for a marriage license and finding someone to officiate the wedding? Is the marriage license as well as marriage certificate among other (ceremony included) fees different than when one marries the same race? (I hear a resounding yes lol but still..) I hope you could help us about this matter and the things we really need to know about civil marriage (apart from what's been provided by the family code of the Philippines).

Kindest regards to everyone and thanks in advance.

Me and my wife, Josephine, got married in Quezon City City City Hall. I had only 10 days I could be there for the visit, so...

She went to City Hall and got the marriage license application. She mailed it to me after completing her part of it. I had to have it notarized first, then had to have the county clerk sign off on it. Then it had to go to the State Department in Nashville, Tennessee and be authenticated. Then after they sent it back to me I had to send it to the Philippines consul in Washington, DC, wehre they also authenticated it, then returned to me. Then I sent it back to Josephine, and she took it back to City Hall whre it was put on display for the required 10 days.

When I arrived in the Philippines, she never told me that the law had changed and the requirement became that you had to be in country longer than I could stay. She kept that secret, and chose to believe that if God wanted us together, it would still be possible. Well... city hall lifted that requirement in our case! They simply ignored the law! Wow... amazing. She only told me about this after we were married.

Anyways, on my 2nd day there we went to the US Embassy, and I got the paper I needed to be free to marry. The next day, my 3rd day there, we got married...

sigh

I love her

[bowgirl 8]

Me and my wife, Josephine, got married in Quezon City City City Hall. I had only 10 days I could be there for the visit, so...

She went to City Hall and got the marriage license application. She mailed it to me after completing her part of it. I had to have it notarized first, then had to have the county clerk sign off on it. Then it had to go to the State Department in Nashville, Tennessee and be authenticated. Then after they sent it back to me I had to send it to the Philippines consul in Washington, DC, wehre they also authenticated it, then returned to me. Then I sent it back to Josephine, and she took it back to City Hall whre it was put on display for the required 10 days.

When I arrived in the Philippines, she never told me that the law had changed and the requirement became that you had to be in country longer than I could stay. She kept that secret, and chose to believe that if God wanted us together, it would still be possible. Well... city hall lifted that requirement in our case! They simply ignored the law! Wow... amazing. She only told me about this after we were married.

Anyways, on my 2nd day there we went to the US Embassy, and I got the paper I needed to be free to marry. The next day, my 3rd day there, we got married...

sigh

I love her

In my case, my husband just downloaded the form and had it notarized in Philippine Consulate in L.A., my part of the form was notarized here. Then, with my cedula, CENOMAR and our 2x2 pics, (cert in lieu to follow) I went to Civil Registry to apply for Marriage License. He came on the night of March 5 and we went to US Embassy for his Cert. in Lieu and Family Planning seminar and submitted photocopies of his passport to registry office on March 6. They released the license on March 9. The schedule was "raffled", you can't really choose a particular date or judge. We were married on March 12, 2009 in Quezon City Hall of Justice.

[Kevin-n-Merlaine 14]

Be prepared to spend some extra time!! We went to the registrars office in Tacloban and had the misfortune of meeting Miss Borja!! She gave us a checklist of things to get done so we started on that. Went to Cebu for my permit to marry, returned and attended the marriage counseling, got her CENOMAR and Barangay clearance then returned to the old hags office. It was a Friday afternoon around 4pm and she informed us that I, ME, the US citizen, would be required to get a CENOMAR!! Merlaine and her sister in law Janette looked shocked as they spoke in Waray. When we walked out of the office they both turned to each other and said 'Bullshit!!" at the same time!! I was livid! So off to NSO office we went. The people there were as shocked as us, but kindly got my CENOMAR done as quickly as possible (I'm hoping to have a plaque put up there, honoring me as the ONLY US citizen ever to be required to obtain a CENOMAR).

We returned to her office as fast as possible (nearly 5pm now), hoping she'd still be there. We just caught her and THEN she hands us the application!! LIVID again! She was sooo kind though and said she'd start our 10 day clock running and to just return the application on Monday.

Monday we return to her office with the application complete. She THEN tells the girls that she won't count last Friday and that it will be 10 "working days" before it's complete...okay now I'm beyond LIVID!! I argued and said it was calendar days not working...and she said, basically, tough! So the next day, we called Merlaine's attourney friend (to be a sponsor at our wedding) and he told us to call 2 days prior to her releasing it to verify she would - just in case we would need to slip her some money. I told Merlaine I'd shoot myself in the face before I gave that old ###### one dime!!! We went to her office and she said she was just sure it was supposed to be "working days" but turns out it was calendar days, so she'd approve it on the next day. I told them I wasn't leaving the office until she gave us our license!!

So, don't be surprised!! What should have been a very easy process, was horrible all because of one woman. She cost me at least another week!! (note-I said MISS earlier. The girls found out talking to her she'd never been married because "she was from a broken home, didn't trust men and didn't believe in marriage)

Every morning I say a little prayer that her butthole will grow shut.

[Lancelotte25 1]

My wife and I got married in Daraga Municipal Hall in Bicol, The Mayor is the one who conducted the ceremony. Did your husband get the Legal Capacity already at the US Embassy?

[abbielovesjeremy 5]

Be prepared to spend some extra time!! We went to the registrars office in Tacloban and had the misfortune of meeting Miss Borja!! She gave us a checklist of things to get done so we started on that. Went to Cebu for my permit to marry, returned and attended the marriage counseling, got her CENOMAR and Barangay clearance then returned to the old hags office. It was a Friday afternoon around 4pm and she informed us that I, ME, the US citizen, would be required to get a CENOMAR!! Merlaine and her sister in law Janette looked shocked as they spoke in Waray. When we walked out of the office they both turned to each other and said 'Bullshit!!" at the same time!! I was livid! So off to NSO office we went. The people there were as shocked as us, but kindly got my CENOMAR done as quickly as possible (I'm hoping to have a plaque put up there, honoring me as the ONLY US citizen ever to be required to obtain a CENOMAR).

We returned to her office as fast as possible (nearly 5pm now), hoping she'd still be there. We just caught her and THEN she hands us the application!! LIVID again! She was sooo kind though and said she'd start our 10 day clock running and to just return the application on Monday.

Monday we return to her office with the application complete. She THEN tells the girls that she won't count last Friday and that it will be 10 "working days" before it's complete...okay now I'm beyond LIVID!! I argued and said it was calendar days not working...and she said, basically, tough! So the next day, we called Merlaine's attourney friend (to be a sponsor at our wedding) and he told us to call 2 days prior to her releasing it to verify she would - just in case we would need to slip her some money. I told Merlaine I'd shoot myself in the face before I gave that old ###### one dime!!! We went to her office and she said she was just sure it was supposed to be "working days" but turns out it was calendar days, so she'd approve it on the next day. I told them I wasn't leaving the office until she gave us our license!!

So, don't be surprised!! What should have been a very easy process, was horrible all because of one woman. She cost me at least another week!! (note-I said MISS earlier. The girls found out talking to her she'd never been married because "she was from a broken home, didn't trust men and didn't believe in marriage)

Every morning I say a little prayer that her butthole will grow shut.

you mentioned this in the other thread before about miss borja but then this is i think a more descriptive version of what happened. omg! they still gave you a CENOMAR??? that's beyond crazy and stupid!

[Kevin-n-Merlaine 14]

Be prepared to spend some extra time!! We went to the registrars office in Tacloban and had the misfortune of meeting Miss Borja!! She gave us a checklist of things to get done so we started on that. Went to Cebu for my permit to marry, returned and attended the marriage counseling, got her CENOMAR and Barangay clearance then returned to the old hags office. It was a Friday afternoon around 4pm and she informed us that I, ME, the US citizen, would be required to get a CENOMAR!! Merlaine and her sister in law Janette looked shocked as they spoke in Waray. When we walked out of the office they both turned to each other and said 'Bullshit!!" at the same time!! I was livid! So off to NSO office we went. The people there were as shocked as us, but kindly got my CENOMAR done as quickly as possible (I'm hoping to have a plaque put up there, honoring me as the ONLY US citizen ever to be required to obtain a CENOMAR).

We returned to her office as fast as possible (nearly 5pm now), hoping she'd still be there. We just caught her and THEN she hands us the application!! LIVID again! She was sooo kind though and said she'd start our 10 day clock running and to just return the application on Monday.

Monday we return to her office with the application complete. She THEN tells the girls that she won't count last Friday and that it will be 10 "working days" before it's complete...okay now I'm beyond LIVID!! I argued and said it was calendar days not working...and she said, basically, tough! So the next day, we called Merlaine's attourney friend (to be a sponsor at our wedding) and he told us to call 2 days prior to her releasing it to verify she would - just in case we would need to slip her some money. I told Merlaine I'd shoot myself in the face before I gave that old ###### one dime!!! We went to her office and she said she was just sure it was supposed to be "working days" but turns out it was calendar days, so she'd approve it on the next day. I told them I wasn't leaving the office until she gave us our license!!

So, don't be surprised!! What should have been a very easy process, was horrible all because of one woman. She cost me at least another week!! (note-I said MISS earlier. The girls found out talking to her she'd never been married because "she was from a broken home, didn't trust men and didn't believe in marriage)

Every morning I say a little prayer that her butthole will grow shut.

you mentioned this in the other thread before about miss borja but then this is i think a more descriptive version of what happened. omg! they still gave you a CENOMAR??? that's beyond crazy and stupid!

Yeah, the poor guy at the NSO office looked like I'd asked him for a cheesburger or to do my laundry, but he gave me one..LOL I've tried to make a formal complaint to the Mayor's office but the email link there is compromised it says. Apparently she get's a LOT of complaints so I hope that mine might be the last straw. I'd love to know that she'd been sent packing and others were spared her nonsense!!

[JoBri 547]

My wife and I got married in Daraga Municipal Hall in Bicol, The Mayor is the one who conducted the ceremony. Did your husband get the Legal Capacity already at the US Embassy?

That extra time is why we took care of our stuff way in advance of me coming to the Philippines. Three days after arriving in the Phils for the first time we were already married. All we had to do when I arrived was go to US Embassy my 2nd morning there, and go to City Hall that afternoon to talk with them and then 3rd day we had appointment already made to be married.