Above all the stress couples experience, wedding preparation can be fun and exciting; that is something we all agree on. Especially when you make the right steps.
One thing we’ve noticed with our engaged friends when it comes to their wedding preparation is they should proceed from one task to another. This is why we’ve decided to make this wedding preparation 101 series to help!
And one of the questions we always hear is how to apply for a marriage license.
You see, not a lot of information can be found on the internet that really tackles the marriage license application process in Palawan.
Like us, a lot of couples had to go to newlyweds or family and friends to ask how to proceed from one thing to the next. This may be a great help but most of the time, what you get is just pieces of information that you need to string together to fully understand.
Now that we’re done with it all, I just felt that you guys shouldn’t experience the same hassle that we had to go through during our wedding preparation.
So here’s a guide in applying for a marriage license in Palawan.
- What is a Marriage License?
- The Requirements for Marriage License
- Where do you Apply for Marriage License?
- How Much Does Applying for Marriage License Cost?
- Step-by-Step Guide on Applying for Marriage License in Palawan
What Is A Marriage License?
According to the Family Code of the Philippines, for two persons to get married as husband and wife, they should comply with the formal requisite of marriage which includes a marriage license.
A marriage license is a document containing the important details of you and your future spouse, your wedding date and place, and signatures signifying that you will enter into marriage as husband and wife. This is a requirement in order to be solemnized in a wedding ceremony.
Requirements for Marriage License
To get a copy of your marriage license, you must prepare to submit the following requirements, both original and photocopies:
Note that additional requirements depend on age. This is because even though the legal age of marriage in the Philippines is 18 years old, the law still acknowledges how young 18 is thus the need for parental consent until the age of 21. Without parental consent, couples cannot get married.
This is different from the age of 21 to 25, where they are only required to produce parental advice. Parental advice is a written piece of advice given by parents of couples between 21-25 years old. Since that range is still considered young, parental advice is needed to ensure that the couple is aware of the responsibilities and consequences of getting married at a young age.
Where Do You Apply for a Marriage License?
If you live in Palawan, you can get a marriage license from the local civil registrar in the city hall or provincial hall, whichever you or your partner currently reside in or will reside in. This means if you live in the city, you must go to the city civil registrar’s Office; and if you live in a municipality, you must go to the provincial civil registrar’s office.
When you go there for an inquiry, they will give you a list of required documents to submit which is definitely the same list we have here on our blog post. So to save you some trouble, you can just prepare these documents and items and go there when ready to submit. Click here to jump to the step-by-step guide on applying for a marriage license.
Remember to personally appear together when applying for a marriage license at the city or municipal hall.
How Much Does Applying for a Marriage License Cost?
Based on our experience, here are the items you must pay for when applying for a marriage license:
| DOCUMENT/ITEM | COST |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | Php100 |
| Notarization of Application for Marriage License | Php200 |
| Certificate of Attendance in Pre-Marriage Counseling | Php100-Php300 |
| Certified True Copy of Birth Certificate | Php100-Php300 |
| Certified True Copy of CENOMAR (Certificate of Marriage) | Php210 |
| Comunity Tax Certificate/Cedula | Php40 |
| Subtotal | Php750 |
| TOTAL (including both parties) | Php1,500 |
Note that these fees are according to our experience, which is in the last quarter of 2022, and may vary depending on the location and office where you will be getting your marriage license. We suggest that it will be best to inquire with your local civil registrar for updated and accurate fees.
Step-by-Step Guide on Applying for a Marriage License in Palawan
Step 1 – Prepare Requirements
Before going to the local civil registrar’s office, make sure to prepare the required documents and IDs.
For the certified true copy of your CENOMAR, or birth certificate, go to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) office in your area.
Step 2 – Schedule an Appointment and Attend Pre-Marriage Counseling Seminar
Go to the Office of the Local Health Officer and schedule an appointment for Pre-Marriage Counseling Seminar. Based on our experience, we had to schedule an appointment ahead of 2 weeks. This may be because of the previous year’s pandemic, but we suggest going there at least 2 months before your wedding date to set up an appointment just to be sure.
Note that this seminar requires both partners to attend to be granted a certificate of attendance.
As a requirement, you have to complete 2 sessions of the seminar (the equivalent of 2 hours each), which include family planning and responsible parenthood, and marriage counseling and responsibilities. This is usually done on different dates, but we only attended a half-day session, or a total of 4 hours. It basically covered everything, and we’re not sure if they still do it, but it’d be great if they did since it will be such a hassle to go there twice. You will be given a certificate of attendance right after the seminar.
Step 3 – Go to the Local Civil Registrar’s Office
Go personally together and bring all the required documents and fees. Make sure to inform them that you want to apply for a marriage license.
When between the ages of 18 and 21, you need to bring your parents’ IDs and parental consent as a requirement. In there, the personnel will give you a copy of the Application for Marriage License form that you need to fill out.
After completing the application form, you need to have it notarized by an attorney. You can do it inside the city/provincial hall by going to the legal office and having your application notarized. Make sure to pay the notarization fees.
You can then finally submit it along with all the required documents. The staff will then process your application.
Step 4 – Public Posting
After filing your application, the local civil registrar will have to post a notice of the application in their office for 10–15 days to allow anyone against your application to file an objection. If none, the license will then be released to the couple.
The personnel will usually inform you when to come back so you don’t have to worry about getting things tangled up with your wedding preparation.
Step 5 – Release of Marriage License
On the day of release, you can get now a copy of your marriage license. Make sure to keep it safe and bring it on the day of your wedding.
We know how much applying for a marriage license can be overwhelming, but by knowing what to do and what requirements to prepare, this process can be smooth and not too stressful. Always remember to prepare ahead of time, plan out dates and preparations, and ask professionals for inquiries. Have a wonderful wedding and best wishes!
Adpenture 
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