Legally Married in Cabo - approx cost

[michelle08]

That probably is the best way to go...good luck...if I get any info I will let you know.

[KAMEYER70]

We are planning to do the legal ceremony in Cabo and my WC is taking care of all of the paperwork, but I wanted to find out exactly how that marriage will be "recognized" in the US. So, here's what I learned...

 

Our Cabo marriage certificate will be considered a legal document in the US. Both the US and Mexico are members of the Hague Convention

and have agreed to recognize each other's public documents when

attached to an "apostille" (the signed affidavit from the U.S.

Consulate), so it may be used when needed in the same way that you

would use a U.S. marriage certificate.

 

That being said, our marriage will not be officially on record in the US as it would if we filed for a marriage license and registered the marriage certificate. If having your marriage on the books is important, you can file a petition for a Court Ordered Delayed Marriage Certificate.

 

For more info on how to do that, click here:

Frequently Asked Questions by Marriage Officiants

[jak27]

Great information! I need to get on the ball and make sure we'll be legit too! Thanks for posting!

[KAMEYER70]

Oh, I should probably add this... Make sure to get a few copies of the apostille and marriage certificate for future needs.

 

Also, think of this like moving from state to state... you do not need to register your marriage certificate in the new state, it's already recognized there. That's the same way the US will treat the Mexican certificate as long as it has the apostille.

[michelle08]

This is all weird...I thought that by having it performed in spanish made it legal?? If I have to pay for this apostille thing then why can't my ceremony be in english? (although it makes for good stories)

 

Then you are saying that when we get back we have to file something to make it on record? Who do we do that with?

[KAMEYER70]

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelle08 This is all weird...I thought that by having it performed in spanish made it legal?? If I have to pay for this apostille thing then why can't my ceremony be in english? (although it makes for good stories) Then you are saying that when we get back we have to file something to make it on record? Who do we do that with?

In order for the marriage to be legally recognized in Mexico, the ceremony must be performed in spanish. Because the associated documents are in spanish, they must be translated and certified (with the apostille) in order for the marriage certificate with be legally recognized in the US.

If you want your marriage on court records in the US, you will need to file a petition to get it entered into the record system. But again, that step is optional since the marriage certificate with apostille is a legally recognized document in the US.

From Wikipedia: "Apostille" literally means a certification. It is the legalization of a document for international use under the terms of the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents. Documents which have been notarized by a notary public, and certain other documents, and then certified with a conformant apostille are accepted for legal use in all the nations that have signed the Hague Convention.

[TammyB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelle08 So the apostille is to have the wedding certificate translated from spanish into english?? That makes sense. I should probably just do it just in case. I would hate to get home and start changing names and realize I screwed it all up!!

No, the apostille is a stamp kindof like your birth certificate is stamped to show it's real..

[KAMEYER70]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TammyB No, the apostille is a stamp kindof like your birth certificate is stamped to show it's real..

Good point, Tammy. This apostille business sounds so much more complicated that it really is.

[TammyB]

Well Sarah said she didn't get her marriage license appostilled and didn't have any troubles switching her name over, but she may have gotten lucky. I worry about my paperwork being in spanish, but IMO you can tell what it is and so forth so I'm hoping they won't give me any problems. Hmm I really need to do the offical name change, just not to motivated to sit in the waiting area for a couple hours. Have I mentioned guys have it WAY too easy..:-)

[cheese_diva]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DREA14369 For instance with the photographer I am going to use Tomas Barron and i haven't actually talked to him or emailed him. (I don't know if I should??) She just said that she would coordinate him and have him work up a contract for me (I requested that) and then I would send her a $350 deposit and she would get it to him...so I am doing everything through her...less i have to worry about.

Michelle,
I've emailed Tomas and talked to him, he doesn't speak much english...
He is taking awhile to email me back...I emailed him last week seeing if he received my deposit and signed contract....hasn't emailed me back....So if he decides to talk a long time responding I'm going to have Maye call him to see if he received it and know where to be on our wedding date.


drea

Sorry to Hijack. I met with Tomas and Maye on Monday.. They are both sooo awesome! Tomas' English isn't the best but he's wonderful to work with. Very funny and does whatever it takes to get a good shot including sweating in 100 degree heat and laying on the sand with us...and Maye.. well Maye is a dream come true!! All her brides are very lucky to have her in charge.

Done with the hijack!