Marriage of American citizens in Tuscany

The following information is provided as a general guideline for American Citizens wishing to get married in Italy.

Before arriving in Italy:

1. Make sure you travel with your valid U.S. passport.
2. If you were married before, bring evidence of the termination of your previous marriage. Please note that a divorced woman who wants to marry again within 300 days of the date of her divorce must contact the local Italian authorities and seek special permission from an Italian magistrate. Otherwise, she must allow the required period of 300 days to elapse. If you are widowed, you must bring the death certificate of your previous spouse. Certificates can be obtained from the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
3. Please, bring your Birth certificates – long form (with the names of both parents).
4. Before leaving USA, we recommend that you obtain an Atto Notorio from the Italian Embassy or Consulate in the state in which you reside.

The Atto Notorio is an oath of the American citizen sworn to in the presence of two witnesses and notarized by an Italian Consul in the U.S, stating that there are no legal impediments to the marriage according to the laws to which the person concerned is subject to in the United States. Please, call the Italian Consulate to request when you need to start this process. Every Consulate has different timing.

Please note: All certificates including divorce certificates or death certificates certifying termination of your previous marriage must be originals. Photocopies are not accepted. Any documents issued outside of Italy must be translated into Italian and authenticated by the nearest Italian Consulate having jurisdiction over the place of issuance in the U.S. before they can have any legal validity before Italian authorities.

Once in Italy (we will assist you):

1. In addition to the Atto Notorio, an American citizen intending to get married in Italy will need to make a Sworn Declaration (Nulla Osta). This Sworn Declaration must be signed, whether you are single, divorced or widowed, in the presence of an American Consular officer in Italy. A Nulla Osta literally states that “there are no impediments,” or that one is free to marry. The Nulla Osta is valid for six months and costs $50.00 per citizen. This service is now performed at the American embassy in Florence on Tuesdays and Thursday mornings by appointment only.
2. The Nulla Osta must then be legalised by the Uffico Legalizzazioni of the Prefettura. I’ll take your “Nulla Osta” to the Prefettura for the legalization of the documents. You do not need to come with me for this second part of the paperwork.
3. If you are unable to obtain an “Atto di notorietà per uso matrimonio” (Atto Notorio) from an Italian Consulate in USA, you may obtain one from the Tribunale Civile in Italy. I will take you there. Two witnesses over 18 years of age and an interpreter need to be present. I’ll be your witness and your interpreter. Another member of Tuscania Events staff can be the other witness, if you need to.
4. Once we have all this documents, you must appear at list two days before the ceremony with one witness before the Civil Registrar in the city hall you selected and make a declaration of your intention to marry. I will take you there, I will be your witness and your interpreter. We need to bring: Passports, birth certificates, “Atto Notorio” and the “Nulla osta” legalized.

Additional information: 

A marriage is considered valid in Italy if performed under civil or religious auspices. A civil ceremony is performed at the City Hall and a translator must interpret if one of the parties does not understand the Italian language. I can be your interpreter. Also two witnesses must be present at your civil ceremony. Please, let me know the names of your witnesses and send me a photocopy of their passports in the next few months.

If you would like your marriage to be recognized in the U.S., I will take the certificate of marriage to the Prefettura, Ufficio Legalizzazioni (the same office that authenticates the Consul’s signature) of Florence to request the placement of an Apostille on the certificate.