Why is there no website about this?

Let this serve as a WARNING to all those who are thinking about doing the legal marriage in Mexico...

 

I'm so frustrated I'm gonna cry! Why does no one ever want to help you?!

 

We got married in Playa del Carmen last month. We made sure we had all the proper paperwork so everything would be legal when we got down there. We were issued a temporary marriage certificate in Spanish. We should be receiving the authenticated one in 5 months (the one with the apostille.) It will also be in Spanish. The resort's WC told us that we would need to take this marriage certificate to our City Hall to have it translated and authenticated. So I started doing some research about it. I called our City Hall. They have no idea what I'm talking about. They told me to call the city Marriage Bureau, so I do. The Marriage Bureau has no idea what I'm talking about and tell me to call City Hall. So I call City Hall again. I asked them what do immigrants do when they need their documents translated. "We don't do anything like that here. Call the Marriage Bureau." So I call MB AGAIN: nada. Not only does no one do it, they've never heard of it, dealt with it and have no idea where to send me.

 

Has anyone else dealt with this or know what I should try next? I just want to be legally married!

 

Someone could be making a fortune if they set up a business to help dest brides navigate the legalities of a DW. I am so confused!!!!!!!!

OMG your going to make me stress.. I'm doing a legal wedding in Mexico, and our WC said we should be OK.. Maybe I'll email her again.

That's horrible. I am sorry you are having to go through this. :hug:

Okay, that stressed me out just a tad too! We were told the exact same thing - that we just bring it back, have it translated and take it to City Hall. Now I have no idea what we're supposed to do!!! I'll try calling around here see if I can uncover something. There must be other brides who have figured this out though.

I'M SORRY!! I don't mean to make you stress, I just am trying to get info from past Mex brides on what they did. I'm not sure talking to your WC will help. I asked my WC tons of questions. They know what happens down in Mex to make it legal. They don't know much about what needs to happen back here in the states once you return. She just told me to go to our CIty Hall and they would take care of it, well they don't know anything! But maybe your WC will have better info. If so, please share!

did you try contacting the judge who performed your legal ceremony I would try to contact everyone I could think of that was a part of your wedding there.

Our judge doesn't even speak English. Our WC translated the whole ceremony.

It seems odd that no past brides have mentioned this as a problem before. Am I missing something?

Legalization (apostille) is being done in Mexico. That is why we have a temporary certificate now and will be getting the legalized (apostilled) one in 5 more months. However, it will still be in Spanish and thus need to be translated here in the States. I just don't know what office is supposed to handle it. I went to the Mexican consulate before I left for Mex to check on it and they told me they do no translating either. I suppose I can try again once I have the document in hand and see if they change their tune...And then assuming they do translate it, what am I supposed to do with it then? Is it supposed to be filed in some office somewhere so that it is on record?

I am feeling like we should just go to City Hall and get remarried. But I'm not sure if that would be illegal or not!

Have you tried calling the US embassy? Even if they are in Mexico THEY should definitely know what you need to do. They tend to be really helpful.

 

I have the number of the Embassy in Cabo if you need it let me know.

 

Baurocrats are horrible to deal with. At least in Mexico I KNOW how to get things done $$$$$$.

 

You should have them translate your marriage certificate in Mexico. There are legal translators that can take care of this BEFORE you do the apostille.