Marriage is a union between two people, performed by a registrar. The marriage takes place at the town hall, but may also take place at another public place of neutral character if the municipal council has designated such a place.
Public cible
- Burger
Conditions
The conditions for getting married are determined by the law of the country of one's nationality. The main marriage conditions for Belgians are:
- minimum age: the minimum age to get married is 18. The juvenile court can lift this age restriction if there are good reasons to do so.
- consent of the spouses: both partners must voluntarily consent to the marriage. A forced marriage is therefore prohibited.
- absence of an impediment to marriage: marriages between persons who are too close by blood or affinity are prohibited. The king may, for important reasons, lift that prohibition. Such a request must be addressed to the Minister of Justice.
- Prohibition of bigamy: a person who is already married may not enter into another marriage. This prohibition also applies to foreigners marrying in Belgium, even if their own national law allows polygamy. Bigamy is a criminal offence.
- Prohibition of marriages of convenience: a marriage where the intention of at least one of the spouses is not to establish a lasting community of life but only to obtain a residence benefit is prohibited.
The conditions for foreigners are determined by their own national law.
Proof
- Both partners must bring their identity cards.
- If there is a marriage contract, you no longer need to present a certificate from the notary. The deed will be registered by the notary in the Central Register of Marriage Contracts.
Procedure
Procedure
At the earliest 6 months and at the latest 14 days before the planned date of marriage, you should make the marriage declaration to the registrar of births, marriages and deaths in the municipality where one of the future spouses lives or is registered in the population, foreigner or waiting register.
- Do both partners live abroad? Then you can file the declaration in
- the last place of residence of you or your partner
- the place of residence of a blood relative up to the second degree (i.e. grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren) of you or your partner
- the place of birth of you or your partner
- If you have another nationality, you must first submit the necessary documents to the Civil Affairs Office. These documents must be no more than 6 months old.
You may appoint witnesses (maximum 2 per marriage partner) to be present at your wedding ceremony. A witness must be of age, but does not have to be a blood relative.
On the wedding day, you will be married by a registrar. The registrar will immediately prepare and digitally sign a marriage certificate.
The civil marriage can only be performed a minimum of 14 days and a maximum of 6 months after the declaration of marriage, provided all documents are in order. The civil marriage must take place before any religious wedding.
Legislation
- Monday to Friday each time on the hour (9am, 10am, 11am, 12am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm)
- Saturday each day on the hour (9 am, 10 am, 11 am, 12 noon, 1 pm, 2 pm).
- It is not possible to get married on Sundays and public holidays.
If a wedding is already scheduled on the date of your choice, the next wedding must be on the same date (the hour before or after).