Church wedding

Where you can sort this out

Příbram Town Hall, Civil Affairs Department, Registry Office

Other necessary documents, information, etc.

• a Czech Republic identity card or a valid Czech Republic travel document (if a travel document is presented, the fiancé must also provide an extract from the Population Register Information System regarding their personal relationship and place of permanent residence),
• birth certificate (original or officially certified copy),
• a final divorce decree from a previous marriage or the death certificate of the deceased spouse.

Foreign nationals

• travel document,
• birth certificate with a translation and the relevant certifications (original or officially certified copy),
• a certificate of legal capacity to marry, which must not be more than 6 months old on the date of the marriage, with a translation and the relevant certifications,
• a certificate of legal capacity to marry, with a translation and the relevant certifications,
• a divorce decree from a previous marriage, with a translation and certification, or a death certificate of the spouse, with a translation,
• a certificate confirming the right to reside in the Czech Republic, issued by the Czech Police; this does not apply to EU citizens, citizens of another signatory state to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, or their family members. This confirmation must not be more than 7 working days old on the date of the marriage.

Basic information

Marriage is contracted by the free and full mutual consent of a man and a woman that they are entering into marriage. A church wedding may only take place once the betrothed have presented to the officiant a certificate issued by the relevant registry office, issued no more than six months previously, confirming that they have met all the legal requirements for entering into a valid marriage. The civil registry office within whose administrative district the marriage is to be contracted is responsible for issuing the certificate. 
The betrothed shall make a declaration of their intention to marry before the relevant church authority, namely before a person authorised by the relevant church or religious community. The marriage is contracted at a place designated by the regulations of the church or religious community for religious ceremonies or religious rites.

Procedure

The certificate shall be issued by the competent registry office on the basis of a written application by the fiancés, following the submission of the documents required for the marriage to be contracted.

The procedure does not apply to:

A marriage may not be contracted

• with a married man or a married woman,
• between ascendants and descendants or between siblings; the same applies to kinship arising from adoption, provided the adoption is still in force,
• a minor; in exceptional cases, the court may, for important reasons, authorise a minor over the age of 16 to marry,
• a person deprived of legal capacity; a person whose legal capacity is restricted may enter into marriage only with the court’s permission,
• a person suffering from a mental disorder which would result in the restriction or deprivation of legal capacity; the court may authorise such a person to marry if their state of health is compatible with the purpose of marriage.

A marriage shall not be valid

• if the man or woman was compelled to make a declaration of marriage by physical force,
• if it was contracted by a minor under the age of 16,
• if it was not contracted before the competent authority of the state, a church or a religious community,
• if the conditions laid down by law for marriage by proxy have not been met,
• if, in the case of a church wedding, a certificate issued by the relevant registry office was not presented to the officiant.

Time limit for processing

30 days

Who is authorised to submit an application, notification, etc.

The betrothed couple or an authorised representative of one of the betrothed.

Other parties to the proceedings

The declaration of marriage is made publicly and in a ceremonial manner in the presence of two witnesses. After the marriage has been solemnised, the first names, surnames and personal identification numbers of the witnesses are entered in the marriage register; in the case of a foreign national who does not have a personal identification number, their date and place of birth are recorded. It follows from the above that a witness must present proof of identity at the marriage ceremony, i.e. an identity card or passport.

Where to find the form

Available from the Příbram Municipal Office, Registry Office; alternatively, it can be printed here – Marriage Application Form – to be printed double-sided on A3 paper only.

The legislation governing this procedure

• Act No. 301/2000 Coll., on civil registers, first names and surnames, and on amendments to certain related acts, 
• Decree No. 207/2001 Coll., implementing Act No. 301/2000 Coll. on registers, first names and surnames, and amending certain related acts,
• Act No. 89/2012 Coll., the Civil Code,
• Act No. 91/2012 Coll., on private international law,
• Act No. 500/2004 Coll., the Code of Administrative Procedure,
• Act No. 634/2004 Coll., on Administrative Fees,
• Act No. 3/2002 Coll., on Churches and Religious Societies.

Administrative (or other) fee

The administrative fee is 500 CZK.

Remedies

An appeal against a decision refusing to issue a certificate for a church wedding may be lodged with the Regional Authority of the Central Bohemian Region within 15 days of the date of delivery of the decision. The appeal must be lodged via the registry office which issued the decision.

Notes

The Příbram Municipal Authority issues certificates for engaged couples from across the Czech Republic, provided they are getting married in the following municipalities within its registry district: Bohutín, Dubenec, Dubno, Háje, Kotenčice, Láz, Lhota u Příbramě, Modřovice, Narysov, Občov, Podlesí, Příbram, Suchodol, Třebsko, Trhové Dušníky, Vysoká u Příbramě.

Where to find further information

Further information can be found on the website of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic at www.mvcr.cz.