Lifestyle
Getting married on the French side: who can marry, documents and banns
How civil marriage works in Saint-Martin, from residence and banns to documents for French and foreign nationals, according to Service-Public.fr and the Collectivité.
By SXM Daily ·
This guide covers civil marriage on the French side of the island. It is based on the French government's Service-Public.fr and the Collectivité de Saint-Martin's website. Rules can change, so contact the Collectivité's état civil (civil registry) before you plan anything.
Who can marry
According to Service-Public.fr, couples of different or the same sex can marry if both partners are at least 18. At least one partner must have lived in the Collectivité for at least one month on the date the banns are published, according to the Collectivité.
Visitors should not assume they can arrive and marry: check with état civil first.
Banns and timing
The banns (publication des bans) are posted for 10 days. The wedding cannot take place before the 10th day after publication, and must take place within a year, according to Service-Public.fr. The public prosecutor can waive the banns for a serious reason.
Documents for French nationals
According to the Collectivité and Service-Public.fr:
- a full copy of your birth certificate, less than three months old
- ID
- ID for each witness
- proof of address
- the marriage contract, if you have one
Documents for foreign nationals
Foreign nationals also need, according to the Collectivité:
- a certificate of celibacy, less than three months old
- a certificate of matrimonial capacity
- a certificat de coutume, usually issued by your embassy or consulate
Witnesses and interview
You need two to four witnesses. The registrar must interview the couple before the wedding, and an interpreter may be required, at the couple's cost if the interpreter is paid, according to Service-Public.fr.
The ceremony
The civil ceremony takes place at the Hôtel de la Collectivité, rue de la Mairie, Marigot, according to the Collectivité. A livret de famille (family record book) is issued to the couple. A religious ceremony cannot take place before the civil one.
Contact
According to the Collectivité's website (updated February 2024), état civil can be reached at 0590 87 50 04 or etat-civil@com-saint-martin.fr, Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 12:30.
Sources
- https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F930
- https://www.com-saint-martin.fr/thematiques/vie-associative-et-citoyennete/les-actes-civils/se-marier