Marriage Notice Requirements in Tilburg

The marriage notice, also known as the notice of intended marriage, is the official notification to the civil registry of the Municipality of Tilburg regarding your planned wedding. For Tilburg residents, this is a crucial step in wedding preparations. Without a complete notice, your ceremony cannot proceed. This article provides an overview of required documents, steps, and local tips, including advice from the Legal Aid Office Tilburg.

What does a marriage notice entail?

With the marriage notice, you and your partner formally inform the civil registry of the Municipality of Tilburg that you intend to marry. This must be done at least 14 days before the wedding date, with no upper limit. Both partners must appear in person, or an authorized representative may handle it with a power of attorney.

The Municipality of Tilburg checks for any impediments, such as an existing marriage or family relationships. If approved, you receive a copy for the ceremony. Contact the Legal Aid Office Tilburg for free preliminary advice.

Legal basis

The rules are set out in Dutch Civil Code Book 1 (DCC Book 1), Articles 38-44. Article 1:38 DCC Book 1 governs receipt and review by the registrar. Article 1:39 DCC Book 1 covers basic information, and 1:40 DCC Book 1 the required documents.

Additional laws include the Act of 9 July 2009 for equal marriage rights, the Registration of Non-Native Children Act for migrants, and the Hague Marriage Convention (1902) for international cases.

Required documents

Requirements vary by situation, such as nationality or marital status. Overview in table:

Document	For whom?	Notes
Valid passport/ID	Both partners	Original to be shown
Birth certificate	Both partners	No older than 6 months, from place of birth
Certificate of civil status (no marriage/divorce/death)	Previously married/partnered	From registry
Parental consent	Under 18	Parents/guardian
Residence permit	Foreign nationals	Legalized by consulate
Certificate of capacity to marry	Foreign partners	Legalized from home country

For registered partnerships: DCC Book 1 art. 1:80 et seq.

Step-by-step procedure in Tilburg

Schedule an appointment at the civil registry of the Municipality of Tilburg via gemeente.tilburg.nl or by phone.
Gather documents well in advance; foreign ones take time.
Both attend (or authorized representative with power of attorney).
Registrar verifies and asks about intent and relationships.
Pay registry fees (€10-20 for notice, €500+ for ceremony).
After 14-day waiting period: copy ready.

Special situations: foreign nationals and remarriage

Foreign partners in Tilburg face additional requirements, such as apostille (Hague Convention). Non-treaty countries: consular visa.

For remarriage: Submit divorce decree (DCC Book 1 art. 1:162), registered with the court. Example: Jan from Tilburg, divorced in 2020, shows decree and extract.

Rights and obligations

Municipality's duty to inform: Free explanation of requirements.
Duty of truthfulness: False information is punishable (DCC Book 1 art. 1:44, fine €8,100).
Right to object: Against rejection at District Court of Zeeland-West-Brabant (Breda) (GALA art. 7:1).
Attendance obligation: Both partners required.

For assistance: Legal Aid Office Tilburg.

Practical examples from Tilburg

Example 1: Anna and Bob from Tilburg. Appointment at Municipality of Tilburg, ID and recent birth certificates (request via website). Ready after 14 days.

Example 2: Carlos (Spain) and Dina (Tilburg). Carlos: apostilled birth certificate and single status certificate. Check for sham marriage (Aliens Act art. 3:65a).

Example 3: Eva (17) wants to marry. Parents sign; otherwise void (DCC Book 1 art. 1:33).

Frequently asked questions

Can an authorized representative file the notice?

Yes, with notarized power of attorney and ID copy (DCC Book 1 art. 1:39 para. 2). Partners' signatures required.

Missing a document?

Registrar grants extension, but plan ahead. Request duplicates.

Does this apply to registered partnerships?

Yes, largely the same.