Professional. Theologically Sound. Trauma-Informed.
Professional. Theologically Sound. Trauma-Informed.
As a wedding officiant, my roles are:
-Perform your ceremony and ensure that you and your partner are actually married.
-Premarital counseling, as necessary.
-It is my responsibility to work with you to create a meaningful and special experience for you, your partner and your guests.
-Ensure that you and your partner obtain the marriage documents;
-Full out same; signed, and sent to the proper office based on your state’s marriage license.
-I am a Grenada Baptist Association Pastor who work across denominations.
WEDDING CEREMONY FEES
Fees for performing wedding ceremonies can vary a lot based on several factors. These factors include:
Parties should contact a marriage officer well in advance before they decide on a date for marriage. For foreign nationals the hotel Liaison usually contact the local marriage officer.
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
Requirements for non-nationals getting Married in Grenada.
Couples are required to apply for a Marriage License from the Office of the Prime Minister. The process takes approximately two (2) to three (3) days. The couple can be married after the fifth day of arrival in Grenada.
The following documents must be provided in English:
• Valid Passports
• Birth Certificates
• Sworn Affidavit (or letter from a Clergy Man, Lawyer or Registry), attesting that neither party has been married previously
• Decree Absolute, for each divorced party
• If widowed, the deceased's Death Certificate
• Legal proof if a name has been changed by Deed Poll
• If under 21, written parental consent by way of an Affidavit from a Lawyer or Notary Public
The Apostille
To use a Marriage Certificate or certain document from Grenada in foreign countries, you must first have the local authorities legalized it. This is a simplified form of legalization which allows you to use your documents overseas. The authority responsible for this in Grenada is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Permanent Secretary or Senior Administrative Officer has the authority to sign on this document.
MARRIAGE OFFICER
Vonnie is a Marriage Officer, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL UNDER SECTION 15 OF THE MARRIAGE ACT of Grenada (CAP. 184), licensed to officiate at weddings in the state of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
HISTORY OF THE APOSTILLE
Grenada joined the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents in 1974. Therefore, no diplomatic authentication or consular legalization of documents from Grenada is needed for successful legal communication with other member states of the Convention. The documents only need to be attested by an apostille certificate with an "apostille" stamp on it by the issuing state's authorities to be valid in the state of destination.
The apostille is a stamp of rectangular shape. It should be filled in in the official language of the issuing authority. The heading "Apostille (Convention de la Haye du 5 octobre 1961)" written in French is a necessary requirement for the apostille's validity.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade is responsible for issuing the apostille.
When the authorities issue public documents such as an official marriage certificate, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade apostillized these documents if necessary. When the relevant authority in Grenada apostilled a marriage certificate, it legalizes it for foreign use. It implies authenticating the origin of the document and the authority of the officials who have affixed the signature, seal or stamp on the document by an authorized official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. After such verification, a special stamp - the apostille - is affixed to the public document or its certified copy. The apostille is usually placed on the back of the underlying public document or on a separate attached page.
Here is the Convention abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents.
PASTORAL COUNSELLING
The Pastoral Counselor should advise the candidates for marriage or the married couple about the apostille.
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