Legal Marriages?

[Katelyn Carney]

So we are getting married in DR in Oct...and I want it to be legal and my resort recommended me to wedo -- they do wedding documents.

 

Any one have experience? or ideas?

 

 

[MJB3172012]

Katelyn,

 

My wedding coordinator recommended WeDo as well.  You should first email Isabel at WeDo for a price quote.  Her email is: "Isabel Gonzalez" <[email protected]>

 

She quoted us $250 for everything to be translated/legalized.  If you look through posts from brides that didn't use WeDo, they seemed to be paying a few hundred more to have the Dominican Consulate translate their documents.

 

They outlined the required documents very clearly on their website:  http://wedo.com.do/requirements.htm.

 

You send them all documents, they translate, have the Dominican Consulate legalize, then send them back to you.

 

Note:  the Single Status Affidavit expires after 90 days, so you must do everything less than 90 days from your wedding, although I wouldn't wait too long.

 

I haven't received my documents back yet, but I'll let you know how long the waiting period is.

 

 

[MJB3172012]

I've finally finished this process.  I've compiled step-by-step instructions for any brides that would like to have a legal ceremony in the Dominican Republic.  Sorry if I repeat from above, just wanted everything in one place.

 

Obtaining a Marriage License in the Dominican Republic

My onsite wedding coordinator recommended WeDo for translations and legalizations of our marriage documents.  WEdding DOcumentation, has been working for more than 14 years with couples from abroad getting married in the Dominican Republic, handling required translations, certified by the Dominican Consulate.  Please visit their webpage "wedo.com.do", there you will find detailed information on how to prepare the required documents.  They work directly with the Dominican Consulate; documentation will meet the approval of the Dominican Republic laws and regulations.  I’ve listed instructions below:

1.  Email Isabel at WeDo for a price quote.  Her email is: “Isabel Gonzalez†<[email protected]
   1. She quoted us $250 for everything to be translated/legalized.  Based on what I’ve heard from other brides that didn't use WeDo, they paid several hundred more to have the Dominican Consulate translate their documents.
2. WeDo outlines the required documents very clearly on their website:  http://wedo.com.do/requirements.htm.
   1. Note:  the Single Status Affidavit expires after 90 days, so you must do everything less than 90 days from your wedding, although I wouldn't wait too long.
3. Please note that your original birth certificates and notary signatures on the Single Status Affidavits must have Apostilles.          
   1. **The Dominican Republic and the U.S.A. are members of the La Hague Convention.  Please have your official documents apostilled by your Secretary of State Office. Obtaining an apostille is simple and fast.  An apostille is an authentication issued on official documents in order to ensure their international validity.  It is an attachment to the document. THE APOSTILLE ON YOUR OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS IS MANDATORY FOR YOUR WEDDING IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 
   2. Click on the link below for an updated list of telephone numbers for the Secretaries of State offices:  http://www.sos.idaho.gov/notary/apost_allstates.htm.  Call your state’s office for specific apostille requirements.  These differ by state.
      1. For example:  My fiancé and I were both born in Ohio, but now live in Missouri.  We sent our birth certificates to the Ohio Secretary of State, but sent our notarized SSA statements to the Missouri Secretary of State (they were notarized in Missouri).  Charges will also differ by state.  Missouri charged $10/apostille, Ohio charged $5/apostille.
4. Once you receive your apostilled documents back from the Secretary of State, send all documents to WeDo.  Sending via FedEx or USPS Express is recommended.  Your original birth certificates will be in this package, you don’t want this getting lost!
5. WeDo will translate your documents, send them to the Dominican Consulate to be legalized (stamped), and return all documents to you.
6. Fax documents to your resort about a month before your wedding.  DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS.  You must bring all original documents with you when you travel to the Dominican Republic.

 

[MJB3172012]

One more thing: Turnaround times.

 

This will differ by state:

 

Obtaining Apostilles

Ohio Secretary of State:  Estimated 3-5 day turnaround.  Actual was 1-2 days

Missouri Secretary of State: Estimated 1-2 day turnaround

 

Translations & Legalizations

WeDo: Estimated 7-10 day turnaround.  Actual was 2-3 days

 

I hope this helps!

[cnd29]

Thanks for all the info!  I think my fiance would like to try to take care of the documents on our own, but this seems like a much more streamlined (and less confusing!) process.  I sent an email for pricing, so we'll see... June is coming so quickly!

 

 

Originally Posted by MJB3172012 

I've finally finished this process.  I've compiled step-by-step instructions for any brides that would like to have a legal ceremony in the Dominican Republic.  Sorry if I repeat from above, just wanted everything in one place.

 

Obtaining a Marriage License in the Dominican Republic

My onsite wedding coordinator recommended WeDo for translations and legalizations of our marriage documents.  WEdding DOcumentation, has been working for more than 14 years with couples from abroad getting married in the Dominican Republic, handling required translations, certified by the Dominican Consulate.  Please visit their webpage "wedo.com.do", there you will find detailed information on how to prepare the required documents.  They work directly with the Dominican Consulate; documentation will meet the approval of the Dominican Republic laws and regulations.  I’ve listed instructions below:

1.  Email Isabel at WeDo for a price quote.  Her email is: “Isabel Gonzalez†<[email protected]
   1. She quoted us $250 for everything to be translated/legalized.  Based on what I’ve heard from other brides that didn't use WeDo, they paid several hundred more to have the Dominican Consulate translate their documents.
2. WeDo outlines the required documents very clearly on their website:  http://wedo.com.do/requirements.htm.
   1. Note:  the Single Status Affidavit expires after 90 days, so you must do everything less than 90 days from your wedding, although I wouldn't wait too long.
3. Please note that your original birth certificates and notary signatures on the Single Status Affidavits must have Apostilles.          
   1. **The Dominican Republic and the U.S.A. are members of the La Hague Convention.  Please have your official documents apostilled by your Secretary of State Office. Obtaining an apostille is simple and fast.  An apostille is an authentication issued on official documents in order to ensure their international validity.  It is an attachment to the document. THE APOSTILLE ON YOUR OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS IS MANDATORY FOR YOUR WEDDING IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 
   2. Click on the link below for an updated list of telephone numbers for the Secretaries of State offices:  http://www.sos.idaho.gov/notary/apost_allstates.htm.  Call your state’s office for specific apostille requirements.  These differ by state.
      1. For example:  My fiancé and I were both born in Ohio, but now live in Missouri.  We sent our birth certificates to the Ohio Secretary of State, but sent our notarized SSA statements to the Missouri Secretary of State (they were notarized in Missouri).  Charges will also differ by state.  Missouri charged $10/apostille, Ohio charged $5/apostille.
4. Once you receive your apostilled documents back from the Secretary of State, send all documents to WeDo.  Sending via FedEx or USPS Express is recommended.  Your original birth certificates will be in this package, you don’t want this getting lost!
5. WeDo will translate your documents, send them to the Dominican Consulate to be legalized (stamped), and return all documents to you.
6. Fax documents to your resort about a month before your wedding.  DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS.  You must bring all original documents with you when you travel to the Dominican Republic.

 

 

[elissae]

Wow!!!!  This is a KEY & INFORMATIVE thread.  I am looking to have a legal ceremony in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.  I will have to keep researching this site, however, I wonder if anyone has documented this process (as good as this) anywhere on the website???  Has anyone seen anything?  I will keep looking!  GREAT JOB, MJB!