Legal marriage in Mexico?

Scotch2120 · December 4, 2009

Hey forum! My fiance and I are wondering if it is worth having an official wedding in Mexico or getting legally married in the U.S. and have a religious/ceremonial wedding in Mexico. It looks like it's going to cost over $1000 total for the legal wedding official in Mexico. This is information from our resort. We would like to keep our wedding date 3/10/10 as our wedding date but are unsure if it is worth it. Are we able to get a marriage license in the U.S. and have a wedding in Mexico while still having the date on our marriage license be 3/10/10? Should I shop around? We are not sure what the options are. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks!

Destination Scout · December 4, 2009

Welcome to the forum Scotch. Your resort prices sound right. I was just at the judge's office in Tulum Mexico last week and the total legal fees, including blood test and translations were about $900, and that didn't include transportation to have someone come to me to do the bloodwork or file the paperwork.

You have to be in the US when everyone signs and dates the US legal certificate, so no, it's not really legal to do it that way. Some states are more lenient than others. Here in AZ no one really monitors it, so it was possible for us to make our friend our officiant and sign it the day that we wanted. However, in CA you have to have everything notarized, so that wouldn't fly.

If it makes you feel better, in AZ our legal marriage certificate is a 2 inch slip of copied paper. It's not anything I would frame.

BN Fotografia · January 12, 2010

Hi Scot! Happy New Year!!

It's your friendly photographer Elizabeth.

I have some great news for you.... I have just completed extensive research into legal marriage in Mexico, aka the civil ceremony, and submitted an article for the February issue of the print magazine Another Day in Paradise - Another Day in Paradise

The online version should be available within the first week of February.

If you have any questions after reading the article, we are happy to help you.

Please pass my regards to Emily.