Getting Married Abroad? Solicitors to prepare Certificate of Non Impediment and Declarations of Freedom to Marry

Getting Married Abroad

Getting married abroad?


If you are planning that dream, beach wedding abroad, please do not forget that certain countries may require you to prove your status and freedom to marry, by way of an affidavit or sworn statement. This is known as a 'Certificate of No Impediment', or a 'Declaration of Freedom to Marry'.


These certificates vary in the length of time they are valid for, which can sometimes only be a few months. Certain countries require that certificates be no older than 2 or 3 months at the time of your wedding. Therefore, it is important to check the requirements which apply to your circumstances and pay particular attention to timelines when you apply for a Declaration of Freedom to Marry.

Please also be aware that a standard Declaration of Freedom to Marry may be insufficient on its own to allow a marriage to take place in a foreign country. You may be required by the foreign authorities to ensure that the Declaration is also translated or endorsed or exchanged for a locally acceptable version issued by your Embassy or Consulate in the country where you will marry. Declarations may also need to be legalised i.e. stamped with an official stamp.

All of these processes do of course take time. It is therefore imperative that at the time of booking your wedding you find out what legal requirements are needed for your own marriage abroad and that you take appropriate advice to ensure that your Declaration of Freedom to Marry is prepared in good time.

We will guide you through the legal process, providing straightforward, practical, cost-effective advice.

In most cases we can prepare Declarations of Freedom to Marry at a fixed price of £150 each or two (one for both parties) at a discounted price of £250. (Please note that the Declarations once prepared by this firm, will need to declared as true before an independent solicitor/ commissioner for oaths which will incur an additional swear/oath fee of £5 each)