Marriage In Thailand

[LoveBug]

Just got back from my embassy yesterday. We also watched a movie and visited CentralWorld and then the Emporium! Very nice places.

I have two questions for the forum members who might be able to help. I'm Filipina and my fiance is a US citizen. We obtained our certificates of freedom to contract marriage at our embassies and are currently having them translated and legalized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. My question now is, can we just get married legally at the nearest Thai district office without the religious ceremony? We'd love to have a Buddhist ceremony but for now just a legal ceremony would be most convenient.

I also want to know if the district office would require us to produce my fiance's divorce decree. Will they want to see a certified and translated copy of the decree as well or would the affidavit of singleness be sufficient?

[grtaylor]

Just got back from my embassy yesterday. We also watched a movie and visited CentralWorld and then the Emporium! Very nice places.

I have two questions for the forum members who might be able to help. I'm Filipina and my fiance is a US citizen. We obtained our certificates of freedom to contract marriage at our embassies and are currently having them translated and legalized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. My question now is, can we just get married legally at the nearest Thai district office without the religious ceremony? We'd love to have a Buddhist ceremony but for now just a legal ceremony would be most convenient.

I also want to know if the district office would require us to produce my fiance's divorce decree. Will they want to see a certified and translated copy of the decree as well or would the affidavit of singleness be sufficient?

No religious ceremony of any faith is necessary for a legal marriage, just the procedure at the Amphur. Then register it at both your embassies.

G

[astral]

Thais often do it the other way round.

They have the religious ceremony and forget the legal one.

[lopburi3]

The legal marriage in Thailand is registration at the District Office - as said there is no religious service of any faith involved in this. As for registering at your Embassy have never heard of any such thing but perhaps there is a requirement from some country. Most Embassies want nothing to do with marriage (other than the required paper required for Ministry of Foreign Affairs registration).

I can not answer for the divorce paperwork as have no personal experience.