Validating US civil marriage in Italy

[seanimo 32]

We were married in Arizona in front of a judge at the court house. We will be doing a religious ceremony in Italy at the end of the year. I am only wondering if anyone has any information, or has actually done this and has any pointers on procedures or anything. We sent Apostile of marrige certificate to consolate in L.A. and they are working on validation. They say it will take them 3 months so we are not entirely certain this is going to be correct. My wife has already went to the tribunal in Rome and was not successful in receiving any help there what so ever. I am wondering if there are documents or anything I can take with me in order to complete the process of our marriage being recognized in both Italy and the United States. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

Edited September 12, 2014 by seanimo

[a+j 77]

Double-check here that you guys mailed to the Consulate all the documents they require:

http://www.conslosangeles.esteri.it/Consolato_LosAngeles/Menu/I_Servizi/Per_i_cittadini/Stato_civile/

Whenever they are done processing the paperwork, the marriage will be registered at the Comune where the Italian citizen resides. Check with this Comune if they have received the paperwork from the Consulate. The Tribunal does not have anything to do with this.

Edited September 14, 2014 by a+j

[seanimo 32]

Double-check here that you guys mailed to the Consulate all the documents they require:

http://www.conslosangeles.esteri.it/Consolato_LosAngeles/Menu/I_Servizi/Per_i_cittadini/Stato_civile/

Whenever they are done processing the paperwork, the marriage will be registered at the Comune where the Italian citizen resides. Check with this Comune if they have received the paperwork from the Consulate. The Tribunal does not have anything to do with this.

Yeah I guess I misspoke Comune is right. What worries us is that they wouldn't accept the apostile of the marriage certificate in Rome so hopefully the U.S. consolate will be more knowledgable on the matter. What they may need is an apostiled original marriage license with the marriage certificate at the bottom. I have it but don't want to send the original in the mail. If need be I will be going to Rome soon so can take it in person. I have a feeling they will want to keep it though.

Thanks for responding. I appreciate your input.

[a+j 77]

The Comune won't accept your marriage certificate from you. In order for a marriage celebrated abroad to be registered in Italy, all the paperwork must arrive through the Consulate. That's what I was told when I inquired about having my marriage registered in Italy, at least.

You should have mailed the Consulate:

- a certified copy of your certificate of matrimony, long form (ask the Courthouse where you got married how to get one), with apostille.

- its translation in Italian (whether or not this has to be done by a certified translator varies among Consulates, so check with L.A.)

- This document, filled out and signed http://www.conslosangeles.esteri.it/NR/rdonlyres/1FC53AD4-C9D6-424E-89D2-5701145A92AF/0/FORMULARIOMATRIMONIO2009.pdf

- Copy of the photo and signature pages of the Italian citizen's passport

- An "Autocertificazione di Cittadinanza" by the Italian citizen (can be done filling out this form: http://www.comune.ovada.al.it/autocert/03-AUTOCERTIFICAZIONE%20DI%20CITTADINANZA%20ITALIANA.pdf)

I also threw in a copy of the photo and signature page of my American spouse's passport, although I don't think it was required.

This is what I did: I sent my paperwork to the Consulate with certified mail - so I had a tracking no. and could confirm the delivery. Then I waited. I think the marriage was registered in Italy a couple of months after I sent the paperwork. In your case, it's probably going to be a longer process, because I think both the Consulate in L.A. and the Comune di Roma are way busier than the ones I dealt with.

Good luck.

Edited September 14, 2014 by a+j

[seanimo 32]

Thank you. This is what we sent. We also emailed them prior to verify what was needed. Thanks for the help.