Many brides have a fantasy of being married on a pristine shoreline with aqua seas, stretched behind foamy surf skipping the shoals as far as the eye can see. Hence the birth of the concept: Weddings in The Bahamas. Where does a couple begin?
It can be broken down into three marriage class, the variation of which is based on the procedural steps followed in each category:
- Category A: Non-local to Non-local (tourist
- Category B: Non-local to Local (mixed resident couples)
- Category C: Local to Local (resident couples)
This segment will deal with the non-local to non-local (tourist couples) category.
The Beginning: When a couple decides to get married in The Bahamas, they will have to pre-plan all the legal steps involved. (Some couples opt out of this and go for what is known as the symbolic, or “mock,” wedding). For a legal wedding to take place, the couple must be physically present in The Bahamas for at least 24-hours prior to submitting a notarized application for a marriage license and marriage certificate to the Marriages Section of the Registrar General’s Department (presently located on the 2nd floor, 50 Shirley Street, Marriages Department).
Most couples book their weddings online with Ministers who are familiar with this process. However, it is imperative that a licensed Marriage Officer preside over the wedding. A Justice of the Peace is not authorized to preside over the wedding but is, instead, authorized to notarize the form to apply for marriage (as mentioned) as well as to prepare, sign and notarize an Affidavit of Singlehood attesting to the status of the bride or groom as never married before. Note: Persons who are swearing Affidavits of Singlehood and whose citizenship is Haitian or Jamaican, those persons are required to procure those affidavits from the Haitian Consulate located on Shirley Street and Sears Hill or the Jamaican Consulate located Shirley Street just east of the Thompson Trading Co.
The Middle: Once the couple has a duly notarized form, they will then prepare to attend the Registry. Both parties must be present! The following documentation must accompany standard tourist couples who have flown into Nassau, Bahamas:
- Notarized application
- Cash or credit card payment of B$100.00 for the Marriage
- Affidavits of Singlehood where
- Immigration Card/ proof of legal entry into The Bahamas.
Divorced parties must bring either Original or a Certified Copy of their divorce papers, a copy of which the Registry will keep for their records. The divorce papers must absolutely bear either a raised or a colored seal proving its mark of authenticity. Once the couple has applied, they can collect their Marriage Licence the following day. Without a Marriage Licence, the marriage cannot go ahead as legal.
The End: After the wedding, the couple will either procure, or hire someone to procure, a Certified Copy of the Marriage Licence bearing a particular signature for it to qualify as the base document to an Apostille. What does this mean? The couple usually needs to process their new legal status in at least one country. This is for purposes of proving a bona fide legal wedding has occurred, and for the purposes of name change, or documentation dealing especially with insurances and taxes. A whole host of jurisdictional issues can arise in marriages involving persons from different countries. The couple may be required to pay B$20.00 for each Certified Copy from the Registry and another B$10.00 for each Apostille from Foreign Affairs (presently located at the Maynard Building on East Hill Street). Applicants may have to wait at least two days for the Certified Copy to be collected once submitted to the Registrar General’s Department and a full three days for the Apostille to be collected once submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will allow you to submit downstairs from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon on weekdays while pick-ups are allowed upstairs from 9:30 am. to 3:00 p.m. on weekdays. Do note that the Registrar General’s Department and the Ministry Foreign Affairs may from time to time change fee structure, office hours or amend policy and procedure.
(To Be Continued…)
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Melissa K. Sweeting – Perecentie, is a student of the University of London and has a long history with the Church. She has a passion for Creative Art, Social Justice, and business. She is the mother of two daughters, Hannah and Omega. |
| For further information on all articles provided by Melissa Sweeting – Percentie, you may contact her via email at mellaw1970@hotmail.com or visit www.lexjustis.com | |
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