Marriage Document Requirements
Documents and Procedures for Marriage PDF Download
Documents and Procedures for Marriage Preparation
1. A recently issued Baptismal Certificate. The certificate should be obtained no earlier than six months prior to your wedding day. This can be obtained from the parish church you were baptized in. If the parish files were destroyed by fire or the church has closed, you may draw up an affidavit stating that you were baptized.
Non-Catholics
If you are of another Christian denomination, please obtain a letterhead from your church stating when and where you were baptized. Please let us know if water was poured on you or you were sprinkled at baptism.
2. You must have your parents, a relative, or anyone who knows you well, sign an affidavit stating that each of you is free to enter into marriage. Please be sure that your parents each sign one form. Please have your parents take these forms to any Catholic church where they live and have a priest witness them and sign and seal these forms as well. We have included envelopes so that they may be returned to us.
3. You can select any three marriage-preparation programs that accommodate your schedule and budget. Engaged Encounter Weekend is highly recommended. There is also a one-day workshop. We will need a certificate from one of these preparation programs. You can register through the diocese.
4. You will also have to attend a Natural Family Planning class. Please call 704-370-3230 and they will be happy to arrange a time with you. We will need a certificate from this class to put in your file.
5. If you are being married in the State of North Carolina, please obtain a marriage license from the Board of Deeds. Please bring this license to the church one week prior to the wedding. The church will take care of sending the license to the Board of Deeds. You will need two forms of ID when you apply for your license (driver’s license and social security number).
6. If you are preparing for marriage that will take place out of the State of North Carolina, please submit to us the name of the priest, the name of the church, and the address, so that we can write a letter to the priest granting you permission to be married there as well as forward the completed marriage file to the officiator.
7. Please submit your selection of prayers and readings to us at least one month in advance, taken from the book, Together for Life. You should make copies of the readings and give them to your readers so that they may practice them well in advance.
Contact Information:
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
537 North Highway 16 Denver, NC 28037
Office Phone: 704-483-6448
Pastor: Fr. Carmen Malacari
June 2011