Corrections of certificates

Who can ask for Baptism / Marriage / Death Certificates

Baptism / Marriage / Death Certificates are to be requested from the Parish where these events were celebrated. The approximate date/year should be told to the Parish Priest.

Certificates are given either on the standard format of the Archdiocese or as teor (the document, word-to-word, as it appears on the Register)

One can ask for one’s own Baptism or Marriage Certificate or for the Certificates of one’s descendants in the direct lineage. It is to be noted that the Baptism / Marriage / Death Registers and the Certificates issued therefrom are meant to be for the sake of ecclesiastical record. If a party other than the direct descendants of the person concerned need the above Certificates to settle some civil issue, they may ask the civil authority to request the Parish Priest to issue the same.

What are the procedures to be followed in order to correct Baptism / Marriage / Death Certificates?

Those desiring to correct the details in Baptism, Marriage and Death Certificates, should petition the Parish Priest in writing. Only the direct descendants or a spouse can ask for correction in a deceased person’s certificate. While doing so, it must be made sure that there are no other interested parties (close relatives like children, siblings) who may be adversely affected by the correction requested.

Proof of the requested change should be made available through an authentic and appropriate civil document (eg. Civil Birth Certificate, Civil Marriage Certificate, Civil Death Certificate). The civil document produced should be dated not more than 6 months before the submission of the petition. The Parish Priest then studies the matter and, if found deserving, petitions the Diocesan Authority for the requested correction and forwards the documents received.

The Chancery Office tries its level best to process the petitions as soon as possible. The procedure of scrutiny and issuing of the Order of correction could even take up to 15 days. The Order is collected from the Chancery Office and the Parish Priest enters the gist of the Order on the margin of the pertinent Register of the Parish Church. The Parish Priest then issues a new Certificate to the party.

What is the procedure for marriages between two Catholics?

The spouses intending to contract marriage are advised try to inform their respective Parish Priests at least 3 months before the intended nuptials. The Parish Priest will then inform them of the preparative sessions / instructions in the Parish, which are to be faithfully attended. The prospective spouses have to also attend the Marriage Formation Programme conducted by the Diocesan Family Service Centre. Fresh Baptism Certificates (issued not more than 6 months before the date fixed for the nuptials) of both are to be submitted; so also Confirmation Certificates. The Parish Priest/s will also invite the spouse/s to fill the Pre-nuptial Enquiry forms and complete the other paper work in view of the Sacrament to the celebrated. Banns are read as per the norms of the Church. Before the nuptials, the Certificate of Civil Registration in view of marriage or the Certificate of Civil Marriage (solemnised) is to be submitted to the Parish Priest.

What is the procedure for marriages between a Catholic and a baptised non-Catholic?

In the first place, it must be made sure that non-Catholic spouse belongs to an ecclesial community whose Baptism is deemed as valid by the Catholic Church. If this is not the case, than follow the procedure in the next section (non-baptised). A fresh Baptism Certificate (issued not more than 6 months before the date fixed for the nuptials) of the Catholic party is to be submitted; so also Confirmation Certificate. The non-Catholic party has to submit a Certificate of Baptism issued by the ecclesial community to which he/she belongs. The Catholic party is advised to inform the Parish Priest at least 3 months before the intended nuptials. The Parish Priest will then inform the party of the preparative sessions / instructions in the Parish. These sessions /instructions are to be faithfully attended by both the spouses. The prospective spouses have to also attend the Marriage Formation Programme conducted by the Diocesan Family Service Centre.

The Parish Priest will also invite both the spouses to fill the Pre-nuptial Enquiry forms and complete the other paper work in view of the Sacrament to the celebrated. The Parish Priest needs to ask the Local Ordinary for permission to celebrate the nuptials, after attaching the cautiones in writing, as mentioned in canon 1125, nos. 1 – 3. Banns are not read in these cases, but the Free State for Marriage is ascertained by a document, drawn up on oath. Before the nuptials, the Certificate of Civil Registration in view of marriage or the Certificate of Civil Marriage (civilly solemnised marriage) is to be submitted to the Parish Priest. It is to be noted that such Marriages are normally not to be celebrated within the Mass.

What is the procedure for marriages between a Catholic and a non-baptised person?

According to the teaching of the Church, the marriage of a Catholic with a non-baptised person is not to be encouraged, due to the impediment involved in these type of marriages. The impediment is technically called the impediment of “disparity of cult”. However, if there are sufficient reasons (civilly married, living together and have children, strong love, difficult to separate, etc.), the Local Ordinary can dispense from the impediment.

A fresh Baptism Certificate (issued not more than 6 months before the date fixed for the nuptials) of the Catholic party is to be submitted; so also Confirmation Certificate. The Catholic party is advised to inform the Parish Priest at least 3 months before the intended nuptials. The Parish Priest will then inform the party of the preparative sessions / instructions in the Parish. These sessions /instructions are to be faithfully attended by both the spouses. The prospective spouses have to also attend the Marriage Formation Programme conducted by the Diocesan Family Service Centre.

The Parish Priest will also invite both the spouses to fill the Pre-nuptial Enquiry forms and complete the other paper work in view of the Sacrament to the celebrated. The Parish Priest then asks the Local Ordinary to dispense the impediment of “disparity of cult”, after attaching the cautiones in writing, as mentioned in canon 1125, nos. 1 – 3. Banns are not read in these cases, but the Free State for Marriage is ascertained by a document, drawn up on oath. According to the CCBI directives, an Affidavit by the non-Catholic, in order to ascertain the free state is also to be produced. Before the nuptials, the Certificate of Civil Registration in view of marriage or the Certificate of Civil Marriage (solemnised) is to be submitted to the Parish Priest. It is to be noted that such Marriages are not to be celebrated within the Mass.

Which Parish Priest to approach in order to prepare oneself for the Sacrament of Marriage?

The Catholic party who desires to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage should approach the Parish Priest of his/her domicile of quasi-domicile. In special circumstances, if the person is far from the place of his domicile/ quasi-domicile, the Parish Priest where the person is staying at present (for at least one month) can also do the process (paper-work) and aid the party in the preparation for Marriage.

In the case of inter-faith marriages, the non-Catholic party has to meet the Parish Priest of the Catholic party.