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Requirements


Checklists of Requirements

CHAPTER I:

1. Partial Changes WITH BIRTH CERTIFICATES are:

  • Original copy of either Baptismal / Confirmation certificate
  • Certified True Copy / Authenticated Copy of Birth Certificate issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO).
  • Certified True Copy / Authenticated copy and within the last six months of issue of the Parents’ Marriage Contract issued by the NSO or the LCRO or from the Church where the wedding took place.
  • Form 137 (elementary, high school) or transcript of records.
  • Notarized Affidavit of Discrepancy
  • Joint affidavit of two disinterested persons (case to case basis)

NOTE:In cases of discrepancies in recorded date of birth, Form 137, elementary or high school records will be recorded and not the college record, for the reason that records from some colleges do not reflect the date of birth of their students.

2. Partial Changes of Record with NO BIRTH CERTIFICATE
The applicant should provide the following documents:

  • Certification of No Record from NSO or LCRO

a.)  information indicated in the Baptismal Certificate
b.)  information consistently used

  • Marriage Contract of Parents
  • Form 137 (Elementary; High School) or Transcript of Records in College with date of birth
  • Notarized Affidavit explaining why birth of the child was registered late (This should include explanation on the discrepancies occurring on the child’s records)
  • Certified True Copy of Hospital Record for children born in hospitals
  • Notarized Joint Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons (case to case basis)

3. Partial Changes of Record with Late BIRTH CERTIFICATE Registration
Applicants should provide the following documents:

  • Certified true copy of Birth Certificate from NSO or LCRO
  • Certification of No Record from NSO or LCRO as indicated in the baptismal certificate (case to case basis)
  • Marriage Contract of Parents
  • Form 137 (Elementary; High School) or Transcript of Records in College with date of birth
  • Notarized Affidavit explaining why birth of the child was registered late (This should include explanation on the discrepancies occurring on the child’s records)
  • Notarized Joint Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons (case to case basis)

4. For Legitimation by Subsequent Marriage
There are cases when by subsequent marriage, status of legitimacy of the child is changed.Requirements for such are as follows:

  • Un-amended birth certificate
  • Amended birth certificate
  • Marriage contract of parents
  • Affidavit submitted to LCRO during application for legitimation (case to case basis)

5. For Partial Changes of Record which involve discrepancy in name appearing in the Baptismal and Birth Cerficates Ex.: Martha Matias (Baptismal Certificate)
Josefa Marie Matias (Birth CertificateApplicant should provide the following documents:

  • Certified True Copy of Birth Certificate from NSO or LCRO
  • School Records or any valid documents that can prove the consistency of record
  • Notarized Affidavit explaining the discrepancies occurring on the child’s records
  • Notarized Joint Affidavit of Two Disinterested Persons (case to case basis)
  • If the applicant wants a certification of the Christian name, this can be given but with a corresponding request coming from the parish priest.

CHAPTER 2:

For Non-Approval of Changes of Certificated of Baptism

The Chancery Office will issue a Cerificate of Christian Name or As Is Record Certification to the Parish where the baptism took place. The Parish Office will keep the original copy and should give a certified true copy of the same with an authentic signature of the Parish Priest to the petitioner and the petitioner should be advised that he / she should always use these two records whenever the need for Baptismal Certificate arises.

NOTE: There should be an explanation that the name during the Baptism is a CHRISTIAN NAME and therefore cannot be deleted nor changed as easily upon request.

CHAPTER 3:

FULL RECONSTRUCTION OF RECORDS

For Full Reconstruction of Certificates of Baptism and Confirmation

  • Birth Certificate of the child
  • Parent’s Marriage Contract
  • Form 137 or Certification from the School
  • Picture taken during the ceremony/ies
  • Certification of NO RECORD from the three (3) nearby parishes
  • Memorandum of Baptism or Receipt of Baptism
  • Notarized affidavit explaining what has transpired and the people involved during the baptism of the child

NOTE: THIS IS A MUST FOR THE PARISH SECRETARIES – You are to advise the applicants to schedule an interview with the parish priest, especially for those who will not be able to produce the required evidence that the ceremony/ies have taken place.

CHAPTER 4:

FOR THOSE WITH APPLICATION FOR R.A 9255 AT THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR’S OFFICE

No changes should be made unless otherwise it was approved by the Local Civil Registrar’s Office (refer to RA 9255).

Applicant should provide the following documents:

  • Certified True Copy of Birth Certificate from NSO or LCRO

1.  Unamended
2.  Amended

  • * Certified True Copy of Cerificate of Finality from Local Civil Regisrar’s Office or Affidavit of Admission of Paternity approved by LCRO

CHAPTER 5:

FOR ADOPTION CASES

Applicant should provide the following documents:

  • Certified True Copy of Finality and Decision
  • Adoptive Parent’s Marriage Contract
  • Certified True Copy of Birth Certificate from NSO or LCRO

1.  Unamended
2.  Amended

  • School Records or any three (3) valid documents that can prove the consistency of personal data in question (case to case basis)

CHAPTER 6:

LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION

If the petitioner cannot personally perform the procedure, he/she must have a valid reason for not being able to come personally and must write an Authorization Letter. A valid ID of the petitioner and of the authorized representative is required.

NOTES:

  1. All requests for changes or correction of existing church records should have an original copy of either the baptismal or confirmation certificate.
  2. After the issuance of the decree to the parish has been made, NO ERASURES should be made on the details recorded on the books of baptism and confirmation. Instead, the necessary notation should be made on the space provided for in the OBSERVANDA.
  3. A SEPARATE FILE should be made for the DECREES ISSUED by the Chancery Office.
  4. All changes should be recorded in the Book of Modifications or Book of Ammendments.

GUIDELINES ON MARRIAGES WITH FOREIGNERS

Circular Letter N. 2/82 issued on March 1983, requires that all marriages involving non-Filipinos must obtain clearance from the CHANCERY before any parish may entertain their applications. The same circular prohibits priests from baptizing foreigners who are applying for marriage or to perform blessings on couples who cannot be married by reason of DIVORCE of any one of the parties. The Chancery requires the following documents to be submitted:

A.  FOR SINGLE PERSONS

  1. Baptismal Certificates (must be issued within the last THREE (3) months)
  2. Confirmation Certificates (must be issued within the last THREE (3) months)
  3. Marriage License (takes TEN (10) days to secure) from the Civil Registrar
  4. Permit from the Parish Priest (if the woman is to be married outside her parish)

B.  FOR WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS

  1. Same as “A”
  2. Death Certificate of former spouse

C.  FOR SINGLE FOREIGNERS

  1. Civil Status Certificate from the respective Consulate/Embassy
  2. Permit/Recommendation from Catholic Parish (even if the foreigner belongs to other religious sects since he/she is marrying a Catholic this time)
  3. Baptismal Certificate (for Catholic persons)
  4. Confirmation Certificate (for Catholic persons)
  5. Birth Certificate for non-Catholics

D.  FOR DIVORCED PERSONS

  1. Decree of Absolute Divorce (from Civil Court)
  2. Declaration of Freedom to Marry from Catholic Matrimonial Tribunal or Annulment (from the Chancery of the State where on resides)
  3. Same as “A”

E.  FOR WIDOWED FOREIGNERS

  1. Same requirements as for single foreigners “C”
  2. Death Certificate of former spouse (“B” No.2)

To meet the requirements of the Civil Registrar’s Office, foreigners must make marriage application before the Civil Registrar or any duly authorized government agencies in their native country. Translations into English must be supplied and duly authenticated. All documents must be presented to their respective Embassies in order to be officially authenticated before being presented to the Civil Registrar’s Office in the Philippines.

Some Embassies will then issue a certification of No Legal Impediment which is required by the Civil Registrar’s Office.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

  1. Couples are required to undergo Pre-Cana Seminar.
  2. For mixed marriages (Catholic and Non-Catholic) dispensation must be secured. Banns are no longer required according to Canon Law.
  3. Couples are to wear decent wear decent attire when they come for the interview.
  4. To ease some problems beforehand, consultations may be made at the Chancery long before the marriage is to be scheduled.