1. U.S. Birth Certificate (certified) with issuance date less than 90 days from the proposed wedding date, which shows parents' names, with Apostille from the Secretary of State office from the State which originated the document.

2. Previous Divorce Decrees (certified) with U.S. notarization less than 90 days from wedding date, with Apostille from the Secretary of State office from the State which originated the document.

3. Certificate of Singlehood issued by your County Records Office or Vital Statistics office less than 90 days before your expected wedding date. For a List of All Counties in the USA, See: COUNTY LIST. This document must then be stamped with the Apostille from the Secretary of State office from your State which originated the document. For a List of All Secretary of State Offices, see: SECRETARY OF STATE LIST. (Sometimes, an affidavit from a family member or two close friends may substitute for a Certificate of Singlehood. Check with your Notary.)[What is a Certificate of Singlehood? A Certificate of Singlehood for the Colombian Marriage Notary is a government document which means that you are single and CURRENTLY NOT MARRIED. It is considered DIFFERENT FROM A DIVORCE DECREE. It basically proves to the Notary that you are not already currently married. In the USA as contrasted with other countries, this document called Certificate of Singlehood is not considered a common document. Then, how do you get it? You get it by going to your local County Records Office and asking for a Name Search or Name Check under your name for any record of current marriage in that county. They will usually hand you a paper stamped or certified by them saying that there is NO RECORD OF CURRENT MARRIAGE of you in that county's records. This is called a "No Record of Current Marriage" in that county and is usually sufficient for the Colombian Notary as a government document equal to a Certificate of Singlehood.

4. Photocopy of your American Passport (notarized) with expiration date more than six months after marriage date.

These offical documents may be required to be translated into Spanish by a translator approved by the Colombian Consulate. Check with your local Notary and Colombian Consulate for current requirement.

The reason official documents need to be issued or re-issued within 90 days of date of marriage is that Colombian Civil Notaries and other Colombian government authorities require "fresh" or recent issued official documents, rather than "stale" or old ones, to generate a valid marriage certificate.

Part of the marriage process in Colombia (or elsewhere for that matter) requires that you sign and submit papers disclosing your past marriages, divorces, and biography. Failure to fully and fairly disclose this information only jeopardizes the validity of your marriage and marriage certificate.

Additional documents may be requested at the discretion of the Notary, and thus should be secured and available. Technically, the Notary may want a Limited Power of Attorney signed by the U.S. gentleman groom before processing the papers, but this can usually also be signed by the gentlemen shortly before the wedding.

*Last five years of Federal Income Tax returns with schedules and attachments

*Last twelve months of your bank statements of deposits and bank letter certification on bank stationary

*Certification of stable employment from your employer on employer stationary

*Proof of ownership of real estate and investment holdings

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USA Vital

1. Birth certificate (certified or notarized) issued within thirty days of the proposed wedding date of bride and any children

2. Colombian Passport* (copy notarized) of bride and children (*CLARIFICATION: Although this document is not technically required for a Colombian Lady or U.S. Citizen to accomplish a civil or Church marriage, it is recommended that the bride and any children secure a Colombian passport as part of or immediately following the marriage process since most married couples want to secure a U.S. visa on conclusion of marriage as expeditously as possible and a Colombian passport is a pre-requisite to the issuance of such a visa by the U.S. Consulate.)

3. Cedula or Identification card (copy notarized) of bride and children

4. Divorce decree or death certificate of former spouse (copy notarized)

5. If children are expected to travel with the bride-to-be, court decree showing that the names and custody of the children are no longer with the father, or a letter or statement signed, dated and notarized from the father declaring no objection to the children's departure from Colombia, or a letter from a local social services office stating that the whereabouts of the father are not known.