Wedding Planning Articles

Obtaining the ‘Marriage Licence’ in Malta

Published by TheWeddingSite.com - All about getting married in Malta

wedding-chairs

Whether having a religious or a civil wedding,  any couple getting married in Malta must contact the Marriage Registry of Malta to make a request for the ‘Publication of Marriage Banns’.

This has to be done between two to three months prior to the wedding.

Documents to take with you:

  • Birth Certificates – only in case of applicants whose birth is not registered at the Malta Public Registry
  • Official Identity Cards of both parties and copies thereof
  • Copies of the Identity Cards of the witnesses

What you should know:

  • The church / place where the marriage will be held
  • The date of marriage
  • The name and surname of the priest who will be conducting the ceremony. In case of a Civil Wedding the Marriage Registry will appoint a wedding officiant.
  • The surname which the bride will be using after marriage (her maiden surname, her husband’s or, in the case of widows, possibly that of her predeceased spouse)

Ten days prior to the marriage date the couple is to collect three documents prepared by the Marriage Registry and submit them to the Parish Priest of the place where the wedding ceremony will be held.

marriage registry malta wedding signing

After the wedding ceremony, the couple will sign their Marriage Certificate. The bride should sign using her maiden surname, or if she is widowed, her late husband’s surname.

Please Note:

To avoid queuing, it is recommended that couples contact the Registry for an appointment before visiting.

Foreigners and Maltese nationals who will be wedding foreigners or persons who have lived abroad for a period of time should request more information from the Marriage Registrar – contact details below.

Couples who are getting married in Gozo should apply for their Marriage Banns at the Marriage Registry in Victoria, Gozo.

 

For more info please contact;

Malta Office
Marriage Registry (Malta)
Evans Building
Merchant Street
Valletta VLT 2000
Malta
Telephone: (+356) 25904241 / (+356) 25904247
Email: pubreg.marriage@gov.mt


Gozo Office
The Public Registry of Gozo
Rabat
Gozo
Telephone: (+356) 2215 6380


The Marriage Registry official website:
https://secure2.gov.mt/certifikati/Department.aspx


Online Ordering of Certificates:
www.certifikati.gov.mt


Non-online ordering of Certificates:

https://secure2.gov.mt/certifikati/CertificateForms.aspx


Wedding Planning Articles

Civil Weddings & Same-Sex Civil Unions

Published by TheWeddingSite.com - All about getting married in Malta

civil weddings malta

The Marriage Registry of Malta also provides services for Civil Weddings. Couples who opt for a Civil Wedding have to satisfy the same obligations and formalities requested for a religious marriage.

 

A Civil Marriage may take place at the Marriage Registry Room (photo below) or at any other public place that is accepted by the Marriage Registrar.  Marriages can also take place on board Maltese registered cruise liners.

Marriage Registry Room Malta


Same-Sex Civil Unions

same_sex

On the 14th of April 2014 same-sex civil unions, which give the couple the same legal rights as those of a marriage, became legal in Malta.  The legalities required for same-sex civil unions are the same as those for heterosexual civil weddings.

 

For more info:

Malta Office
Marriage Registry (Malta)
Evans Building
Merchant Street
Valletta VLT 2000
Malta

Telephone: (+356) 25904241 / (+356) 25904247
Email: pubreg.marriage@gov.mt

 

Gozo Office
The Public Registry of Gozo
Rabat
Gozo

Telephone: (+356) 2215 6380

 

The Marriage Registry official website:
https://secure2.gov.mt/certifikati/Department.aspx

Online Ordering of Certificates:
www.certifikati.gov.mt

Non-online ordering of Certificates:
https://secure2.gov.mt/certifikati/CertificateForms.aspx


Wedding Planning Articles

Keeping your Maiden Surname

Published by TheWeddingSite.com - All about getting married in Malta

mrs

When visiting the Marriage Registry of Malta for the publication of banns, the bride-to-be must have decided whether or not she will keep her maiden surname. Below are the available options.  

 

In this example let us assume that Mary Abela is getting married to John Borg.  These are her options with regards to her surname:

Option 1: Mary Abela to become Mary Borg

Option 2: Mary Abela to become Mary Borg Abela or Mary Abela Borg

Option 3: Mary Abela to remain Mary Abela (keep her maiden surname)

 

What about the couple’s children?

Children always take their father’s surname but can also take the mother’s together with the father’s.

Thus the children’s surname of the couple in this example would be;

Option 1: Paul Borg

Option 2: Paul Borg Abela or Paul Abela Borg

For some brides this decision might be understandably quite difficult. You have been carrying your surname for at least eighteen years and all your friends know you like that! Will you feel uncomfortable changing it? Will you feel that your identity has been changed?

The choice is yours!

Photo credit lovedainty on etsy