Qué veras en este artículo
If you’ve decided to get married through a civil ceremony and have some doubts about the legal procedures you need to complete to make it happen, this blog is for you!
We know that marriage is the result of deep love between two people who have decided to accompany each other for the rest of their lives. However, we must not forget that, under the law, marital union represents a patrimonial and conjugal society with rights and duties.
To carry out a civil marriage in Colombia, it is necessary to follow a series of requirements depending on your situation, and at Wink, we’ve listed them for you:
If you and your partner are still legally considered single:
- You must have the civil marriage application completed and notarized, submitted by you and your partner, or by an attorney if necessary.
- Don’t forget the importance of having each person’s birth certificate, issued no more than 3 months prior.
- It is essential to make a photocopy of both citizenship ID cards.
- You can also grant a special power of attorney to a family member or a close person in case you or your partner cannot personally submit the civil marriage application or even attend the ceremony.
If you are marrying a foreigner in a civil wedding:
- If one of you is Colombian, you must follow the same steps as in the previous point.
- For your foreign partner, you will need: a copy of their passport, an apostilled birth certificate (translated if necessary), a certificate of single status or its equivalent (apostilled and translated if needed), and an apostilled special power of attorney if they cannot attend.
- Additionally, remember that if the documents are written in a language other than Spanish, they must be officially translated. If your partner does not speak Spanish, you must have an official translator present at the ceremony, identified with their ID and translator resolution, who will sign the deed.
If you and your partner are single but have children from a previous relationship:
- In addition to the requirements from the first point, a solemn inventory of the minors’ assets and the birth certificates of the children are required.
If you and your partner are single but have children together:
- In this case, you must also meet the requirements from the first point and additionally include the birth certificates of your shared children for their legitimization.
If you or your partner are getting married for the second time:
- To the basic requirements mentioned in the first point, you must attach the birth certificate with a note of the divorce, dissolution, and liquidation of the marital property.
- If you had a previous marital union declared notarized or judicially, the birth certificate must also include marginal notes of the dissolution and liquidation of the patrimonial society.
- If you are widowed, you must provide the death certificate of the deceased spouse.
Did you know that in Colombia it is possible to carry out a Civil Wedding between minors?
- That’s right! In Colombia, minors between the ages of 14 and 17 are allowed to marry, as stipulated in the Civil Code (Article 117), as long as they have the consent of their parents or legal guardians.
- To get married, they must have this consent in a written permit that explicitly authorizes the marriage, along with the basic documents mentioned in the first point.
Now that you know the procedures, how about we talk about costs, extra recommendations, and some tips from Wink for your big day?
The cost of a civil ceremony in Colombia is approximately $40,000 pesos. However, you may need to cover additional notarial expenses such as copies of the deed, notarizations, public notices, and deliveries, with a final cost ranging between $100,000 and $180,000 pesos.
At Wink, we recommend checking with your notary how many guests are allowed to attend your civil ceremony, or even if you can livestream it via video call so that family or friends who live far away don’t miss this special moment.
Marriage is an act of love, courage, and commitment, and it deserves to be celebrated in style. If you want to host a party, brunch, or lunch after your civil wedding, we’re here to make it a reality! We bring you the freshest ideas, the most beautiful decor, the most delicious food, and plenty of memories captured in high-quality photography and video.
We wish you all the success in organizing your wedding, and if you need help, we’re just one click away!
