Getting married in France –
legal document requirements

Congratulations on choosing your wedding in France.

As is the case with so many overseas wedding destinations, there is now
the legal documentation requirements to consider. At TLC UK we are here to
help and answer that question: ‘what do I need to get married in France?’

Exactly what do you need to do to get married in France?

Getting married in France and all the questions that come with it concerning the legal paperwork needn’t be confusing. Your life history (single, divorced, etc) determines which legal papers you will need to have translated and legalised. The whole process does however need to be done accurately and timing is essential to avoid any disappointments for your wedding day. That’s where TLC UK can really help.

Below is a list of typical requirements. These are for two British nationals marrying. If you are marrying a non-British national, please contact us for further information or fill out the Personal Situation Form below and we can start helping right away.

Full Birth Certificate
Certificate of No Impediment
Decree Absolute
Death Certificate
Change of Name Deed Poll

Please note that the above are national guidelines as issued by the French Consulate. Sometimes, requirements for particular hotels/regions can differ or change from the national guidelines. We strongly recommend that you check with your travel agent or directly with the hotel or town hall to get final confirmation on the combination of legal documents you require for your ceremony.

How do I translate & legalise documents for my wedding in France?

Once the documents’ requirements are known for you and your partner to get married in France then comes the translation and legalisation. This step of the process needs to be co-ordinated and planned carefully. It will involve sending your documents to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office plus of course hiring the specialist skills of a qualified translator to perform the certified translation.

Confused about how to get married in France?

No need to be. You are in safe hands with TLC UK and here’s how:

Wedding Date Diary planner – we’ll remind you when it’s time to start the legal documentation process. Our friendly team is here to help.
A team of professional translators and legal professionals working together for you.
Messenger services to the Embassies/Consulates, Foreign & Commonwealth Offices on your behalf.

All you need to do is send us your documents and we’ll return them by secure post, ready for you to say ‘I do’ at your French wedding.

So why not get in touch and let us start helping right away?

Are there any other special requirements to consider when getting married in France?
Another document that you and your partner will need to obtain is the "certificate of law". You will need to contact the Consular Directorate at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who will issue these to you in French.	One of the parties to be married has to reside in France for at least 40 days immediately preceding the marriage.

TLC UK makes getting married in France simple and straight forward.

So why not get in touch if you have any questions you’d like to ask us or please complete the Personal Situation Form below and we can start helping right away. We can contact the Embassy direct on your behalf from the information you supply, then come back to you with a document checklist and price for carrying out the work.

If you need your marriage certificate translated when you return to the UK,
TLC UK can help. Contact us for a quotation.