Atto Notorio for marriages in Italy – US citizens

• Application Form for the Atto Notorio
• List of translator
• What is an Apostille

U.S. citizens wishing to be married in Italy must appear before the Civil Registrar of the City Hall (“Comune”) where the marriage is to take place, bring two witnesses, and make a declaration of their intention to marry. Please, contact as soon as possible the chosen City Hall office for more detailed information and arrangements.
For religious wedding, please contact directly the marriage officiant in order to obtain specific information on the procedure.

The couple must also present the following documents:

• A valid U.S. passport;
• A certified copy of the birth certificate in “long form”, which includes the names of both parents and legalized with an “Apostille” affixed by the Department of State of the State where the birth took place. The birth certificate must be accurately translated into Italian.
•  If applicable, a final decree of divorce and/or death certificate of the previous spouse, legalized with the Apostille issued by the State Department of the State where the event took place. The death certificate must be accurately translated into Italian. The divorce decree must also be professionally translated into Italian, certified with a “Certificate of Accuracy” and have an Apostille affixed by the State Department of the State where the translation was certified.
• An affidavit (“Atto Notorio“), sworn to by four witnesses, who must be over 18 and unrelated to either of the two parties or to each other. The sworn witnesses must personally appear, with a valid ID (Passport), before the Italian Consular Officer in the U.S. having jurisdiction over your place of residence.
  The affidavit will state that the witnesses swear under the penalty of perjury that they personally know the U.S. citizen, that they personally know that the U.S. citizen is a resident of the U.S., that they personally know that the U.S. citizen has never been married or is now divorced or widowed, that to the best of their knowledge the U.S. citizen is free to marry in accordance with the local laws, and that there are no objections for the U.S. citizen to be married in Italy.
  THE AFFIDAVIT MUST BE EXECUTED WITHIN THREE MONTH FROM THE DATE OF MARRIAGE.
• In order to request an Atto Notorio, please send by email the Application form, duly filled in, to the Legal Office (newyork.notarile@esteri.it) indicating a phone number. Please indicate 3 dates in which all of the interested parties may appear at the Consulate. You will be contacted via telephone or email to arrange an appointment. All attendees must have a valid ID for identification (passport)
• A Declaration, sworn to by the U.S. citizens who intend to marry in Italy before an American Consular officer in Italy, stating that according to the United States laws there is no obstacle to his/her marriage. If applicable, a sworn statement of consent of the marriage by the parents or legal guardian, if the American citizen is under legal age; Please call the U.S. Consulate with the phone numbers provided below to arrange an appointment. All attendees will have a valid ID for identification (passport)

After the declaration, banns must be posted at the local City Hall for eight consecutive days and four more days are necessary before the marriage occurs. However, banns are usually waived by the Vital Statistic Registrar (“Ufficiale dello Stato Civile”) if neither party to the marriage is an Italian nor is residing in Italy. Please confirm with the U.S. Consulate in Italy or with the City Hall (“Comune”) to see if this is applicable to you. On the fourth day following the eight days on which the banns are posted, the couple may be married, in a civil ceremony performed by the Civil Registrar, or in a religious ceremony performed by a clergyman. Please note THE CLERGYMAN MUST REGISTER THE MARRIAGE with the “Ufficiale dello Stato Civile” to validate it.

It is suggested, before leaving Italy, that you request a copy of your marriage certificate from the City Hall and also have this legalize with an Apostile at the local Prefettura.
HOW TO REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT TO OBTAIN AN ATTO NOTORIO

In order to request an Atto Notorio, please send the Application form, duly filled in, by email to the Legal Office (newyork.notarile@esteri.it) indicating a phone number. Please suggest 3 dates in which all of the interested parties may appear at the Consulate. You will be contacted via telephone or email to arrange an appointment. All attendees must have a valid ID for identification (Passport).

The consular fees for the Atto Notorio for marriage are indicated in art. 26 and art. 25