Are you going to marry civilian and have no idea how much it will cost, or even what documents are needed? Relax! We tell you everything in this post. Come check it out!
How much does it cost to get married in civil and other important things the bride and groom need to know
Civil marriage is important from a legal and legal point of view, after all it is what validates the union before justice.
That is, there is no way to escape it. And for this very reason, civil marriage often ends up being the first and only option of the bride and groom, especially when the intention is to have an economic and intimate wedding.
What you may not know is that the value of a civil wedding can vary widely depending on the type of celebration, the regime of property and the location (costs change according to each state).
Civil marriage and the property regime
One of the first things the couple needs to decide is on the property regime. Without that decision made, there is no point in going to the registry office. Therefore, see below the types of property regimes accepted by Brazilian law.
Partial communion of goods
The regime of partial communion of goods is the most common one that exists. In this case, the couple agrees to share the assets they acquired after marriage, while the assets that were acquired previously remain in individual possession.
The partial communion of goods is also the least bureaucratic, since it does not require different documentation, as is the case with the following options.
Total communion of goods
The total or universal communion of goods, as it is also called, is one where all the couple’s goods, acquired before or after marriage, belong to both.
For this type of property regime, it is necessary to carry out a deed in a notary public attesting all the assets of each of the bride and groom before even filing the civil marriage request.
That is, it will require more time, fees and willingness from the couple.
Total separation of goods
The regime of total separation of assets, as its name suggests, is one in which assets (before and after marriage) remain in individual possession, that is, they are not shared in common.
This type of property regime also requires a deed to be presented at the registry office.
Types of civil marriage
At the registry office
Civil marriage at the registry office is the preferred option for those who wish to save money and perform an intimate ceremony.
In this case, the couple just have to go to the registry office on the scheduled day accompanied by the documents and two godparents. The marriage judge is the judge of peace and the clerk.
Simple and fast.
Religious with civil effect
Civil marriage can also be performed in conjunction with religious marriage. In this case, the religious or ceremonialist invited by the couple performs the ceremony.
For this type of wedding it is necessary to go to the registry office with an application issued by the church, religious or ceremonial informing the bride and groom’s desire to have a religious wedding with civil effect.
The registry office then issues a certificate that must be taken to the celebrant so that he issues the religious marriage term with civil effect. After the celebration, the couple has up to 90 days to take this document to the registry office to issue the official marriage certificate.
Diligence
Due diligence civil marriage is one in which the judge of peace goes to the place of the ceremony chosen by the couple, and may or may not be together with the religious.
This type of ceremony can cost up to twice as much as a simple civil wedding.
Necessary documentation for civil marriage
Check below which documents the couple needs to gather to file the civil marriage application at the registry office.
Among singles
Civil marriage between singles requires few documents. Write down:
- Original and certified copy of the bride and groom’s identity document (RG, CNH, Passport, class entity card, such as CRM, OAB, among others).
- Original CPF of both.
- Original birth certificate for each of the bride and groom.
Between divorced
In the event that one or both couples are divorced, in addition to the documents mentioned above (CPF, birth certificate and identity document), it is also necessary to provide the previous marriage certificate with divorce registration and the public divorce deed.
The divorced bridegroom needs to prove whether the assets of the last marriage were shared. If not, the new union must take place under the regime of total separation of assets.
Among widowers
In the case of any of the grooms being a widower, it is essential to take to the registry the death certificate of the former spouse, the previous marriage certificate and the inventory of assets in case the deceased has left an inheritance or children.
Remembering that it is also necessary to provide the other documents, such as CPF, birth certificate and identity document of both.
stable union
For couples who already share a common life and just want to make the stable union official, the process is quite simple.
There is no ceremony, the couple only needs to sign a declaration of stable union in the registry office.
Homoaffective union
Homosexual couples have been guaranteed since 2013 the right to convert a stable union into marriage, so that both spouses enjoy the same rights and duties as a heterosexual couple.
All notary offices in the country can (and should) perform civil marriages between people of the same sex.
The procedure in this case is the same as the previous ones and the couple must go to the registry office closest to the residence with CPF, birth certificate and identity document, in addition to divorce and death certificates when applicable.
How much does civil marriage cost: fees and values
Now let’s go to the question that brought you here in this post: “how much does a civil wedding cost”.
After the couple has analyzed the type of ceremony they want to perform and the type of property regime (two main factors that determine the cost of civil marriage), it is already possible to determine, on average, how much the wedding will cost.
Based on the state of São Paulo, a civil wedding held within the registry office with a partial communion of goods regime (the most common) costs (in 2020) about R $ 417, and this amount may vary slightly according with the region or registry office.
If the intention is to conduct a civil wedding in due diligence, that is, when the judge of peace goes to the place of the ceremony, the total cost can reach R $ 1392.
Yeah! São Paulo grooms are the ones who pay the most to marry civilians.
The cheapest state to get married in Brazil is Rio Grande do Sul. The gaucho grooms disburse R $ 66 for the wedding directly at the registry office. The due diligence ceremony, however, is even cheaper, starting at values starting at R $ 35.
In other Brazilian states the values of civil marriage vary between R $ 159 (Ceará) and R $ 289 (Paraná).
Free civil marriage
Did you know that it is possible to marry for free in civil? Yeah! Brazilian law guarantees this right to all couples who testify to poverty.
To do this, it is necessary to go to the registry office and fill out a declaration with your own hand stating that the couple cannot afford to pay the fees required by the registry.
Once this is done, the registry asks for the document to be validated by the CRAS (Reference Center for Social Assistance) in the city based on the presentation of documents such as a work card and income proof.
Civil wedding in Covid-19 times
The Covid-19 pandemic has even changed the way marriage is conducted. Nowadays it is possible to hold civil ceremonies using videoconferencing.
However, this practice depends on the policy adopted by each registry office. The ceremony is held at a distance, with the judge of peace on one side and the bride and groom on the other.
No signatures or sponsors are required. The recording itself serves as a witness to the wedding.
But it is possible for relatives and close friends to attend the ceremony from a distance and live.
And the surname, how is it?
Nowadays it is no longer mandatory for a woman to carry her husband’s surname. This is an option that only fits the bride and groom.
It is possible to either continue with the single name, or to adopt the surname of the groom or the bride, provided that at least one family surname is maintained.
From wedding to reception
The civil marriage may or may not be accompanied by a reception for relatives and friends.
The most usual nowadays is to hold a mini wedding, something very intimate, dedicated only to relatives and friends « closer » to the couple.
Another option is to invite parents, godparents and close people to lunch or dinner at a restaurant.
What really counts is celebrating this special moment!
