Getting a Marriage License?

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Q. What is the process for obtaining a license to marry in a foreign country?

A. It depends on the country. Each has its own rules, and there is typically a lot of paperwork involved. France is one of the most difficult places to get married, for example, because it requires that you reside there for 40 days before your wedding. But in most countries you have to be there only three days ahead of the ceremony. Marianne Weiman-Nelson recommends contacting a U.S. office of the consulate for the country you're marrying in to find out about the regulations. She also suggests gathering your passports, original copies of your birth certificates and, if applicable, divorce decrees.

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