Our Services
Tailored Legal Wedding Planning Solutions for
Your Unique Celebration
Nulla Osta
At The Legal Wedding Planner, we specialize in facilitating the process of obtaining the Nulla Osta—the essential document issued by your consulate in Italy to authorize marriage.
In some cases, depending on international conventions and bilateral agreements, the Nulla Osta may be replaced by other documents.
For this reason, we carefully evaluate each case to determine the exact procedure required for your nationality.
We take care of every detail on your behalf, from attending appointments at your Consulate to managing the legalization of consular signatures at the Italian Prefettura offices.
Our expertise extends to couples from the USA, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. We are also highly experienced in handling situations where the Nulla Osta is not required, guiding you step by step in securing the necessary documents from your home country instead.
With our professional support, you can trust that your path to marriage in Italy will be smooth, efficient, and stress-free.
Atto Notorio
The atto notorio is a sworn declaration required by law for U.S. citizens and Australian citizens who wish to celebrate a civil marriage in Italy that will be legally recognized in their home country.
This declaration is made before an Italian Court Official (any local Tribunal in Italy), where the bride and groom declare under oath:
- that they are free from any prior marriage or binding commitment;
- that no impediments exist under the laws of their country of citizenship and residence;
- that they have remained free to marry during their stay abroad;
- that there are no impediments under Italian Civil Code Articles 85, 86, 87 (nos. 1 and 2), 88 and 89.
The atto notorio is in addition to the sworn statement made before the U.S. or Australian Consulate in Italy. Both documents must then be submitted to the Italian Civil Registrar together with the consular affidavit, legalized at the competent prefettura.
Important note: When our office assists with the atto notorio, the process is usually fast and efficient, thanks to our collaboration with flexible Italian courts. Unlike other documents, such as birth certificates or divorce decrees, the court does not require translations or legalizations. The declaration made by the spouses in front of the court official is sufficient.
Legal Basis
- U.S. citizens: Legge 13 Ottobre 1965, N. 1195, concerning the Exchange of Notes between Italy and the United States of America regarding marriages celebrated in Italy by U.S. citizens (signed in Rome, 29 July – 18 August 1964). This law ratifies and implements the Agreement on civil status documents to be produced by U.S. citizens who intend to marry in Italy.
- Australian citizens: Legge 27 Febbbraio 2002, N. 233, ratifying and implementing the Exchange of Letters constituting an Agreement between the Government of the Italian Republic and the Government of Australia on civil status records to be produced by Australian nationals intending to marry in Italy.
This means that if you are a U.S. citizen marrying in Italy or an Australian citizen marrying in Italy, the atto notorio is a mandatory legal step to ensure that your Italian civil wedding is fully valid and recognized back home.
Legalization
Legalization of Nulla Osta and Marriage Certificates
Once your Nulla Osta is issued by your Consulate in Italy (if applicable to your case), we efficiently manage its legalization. If you are on a tight timeline, we can initiate an emergency procedure by providing evidence of your time constraints. Thanks to our pre-booked slots at the competent Prefettura, we ensure the process is handled swiftly and smoothly.
It’s important to note that not all Nulla Osta require legalization. This depends on whether an international convention between your country and Italy is in place.
Our team continuously monitors these agreements to give you accurate guidance, saving you both time and effort during your marriage preparations.
Legalization may also be required after the marriage if you want your civil wedding to be recognized in your home country. In these cases, we carefully evaluate the applicable conventions and determine the proper procedure:
If the Hague Convention applies:
We obtain an apostille on a specific version of your marriage certificate (which also specifies the property regime you choose after the wedding) at the competent Prefettura. Then, a professional translator swears the accuracy of the translation (asseverazione) in court. Finally, we request the competent public prosecutor to place a second apostille on the sworn translation. This ensures that your marriage certificate is fully recognized in your home country.If the Hague Convention does not apply:
We manage the process through your consulate in Italy. This may involve consular legalization procedures or, when needed, sworn translations (asseverazioni) handled by our professional translators in court.
With our expertise, you can be confident that your marriage certificate will be properly legalized and recognized abroad, no matter the complexity of your case.
Legal Translations
Navigating the complexities of legal translations for foreign documents is an essential step in international marriage procedures.
At The Legal Wedding Planner, we specialize in providing the fastest and most reliable solutions for legal translations.
Through the process known as asseverazione (sworn translations) at the Italian Court, we ensure your documents are legally recognized.
If the destination country has signed the Hague Convention, we also work with the competent Public Prosecutor to obtain the apostille—both on the legal translation and on the marriage certificate.
Whether the task must be completed abroad or within an Italian Court, we handle every step with efficiency.
Our daily presence in Court allows us to assist swiftly with legal formalities.
We work exclusively with professional translators with a legal background in Italy and abroad, guaranteeing that every document meets the strict requirements of the legal system.
For civil weddings in Italy involving foreign nationals, we provide expert consecutive interpreting, as required by law, both for the declaration of no impediment for non-resident foreign citizens and for the civil ceremony.
All of our interpreters have a legal background and are experienced in assisting during town hall appointments.
With professionalism, accuracy, and cultural sensitivity, we bridge language barriers—ensuring your special day is seamless, stress-free, and truly memorable.
Town Hall Affairs
With our extensive experience in coordinating civil weddings in Italy for international couples, we are fully familiar with how Italian town halls manage foreign marriages. From the very first step, we guide you in selecting the most suitable town hall, based on the complexity of your case and the time available during your stay.
Our network and knowledge of local practices allow us to handle the bureaucratic process efficiently, ensuring a valid and recognized legal marriage in your home country.
It is important to note that each Italian town hall has the authority to interpret civil wedding procedures differently.
For this reason, we work directly with officials to ensure that your marriage is correctly registered and legally effective in your country of residence or citizenship.
A key aspect of our assistance concerns the property regime applicable to your marriage. According to Italian law and international private law rules, couples may choose whether their property regime will be governed by Italian law or by the law of their country of citizenship or habitual residence.
We pay particular attention to this point, advising you on the correct procedure to ensure your chosen regime is duly recorded and legally binding.
At The Legal Wedding Planner, we make sure that every legal detail of your civil wedding in Italy is managed correctly, so that your marriage – including the applicable property regime – is recognized internationally and reflects your specific needs.
Request Your Customized Quote
At The Legal Wedding Planner, we’re eager to hear about your dream Italian wedding. Contact us to discuss your ideas, ask any questions, and receive a personalized quote for your special day.
