top of page

LEGAL ADVICE

UPDATED as of 16.01.23

PLEASE NOTE THIS PAGE IS FOR TIE THE KNOT BRIDES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE SHARED PUBLICLY 

WEDDING PAPERWORK

Due to Brexit, there have been some further changes to the paperwork required, Below is the VERY LATEST INFORMATION - ISSUED 02.05.23 

 

All UK Passport Holders 

  • Full Birth certificates that show your parent's names (these do not require an Apostile stamp) 

  • A valid UK passport for both the bride & groom

  • Photocopies of your Witnesses' Passports.

  • Statutory Declaration/Affidavit. This certificate must be signed, certified, and dated by a UK practicing Solicitor or Notary Public. This Certificate should be sealed with an APOSTILLE.

  • IF EITHER PARTY IS DIVORCED: Your original Decree Absolute or a certified copy sealed with an APOSTILLE. 

  • IF EITHER PARTY IS WIDOWED: Your original marriage certificate with apostille stamp
 & Death certificates of the deceased spouse both documents should be sealed with an APOSTILLE. 

  • IF EITHER PARTY HAS CHANGED THEIR NAME: Deed Poll Certificate sealed with an APOSTILLE. 

  • The name on all documents confirming your civil status must be matching with the name on your passport otherwise you must provide Name Change Document. 

 

Statutory Declaration/Affidavit Templates 

 

Below are templates you can use, please use one each. DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE THE DATE ON THEM!

  • CLICK HERE for a standard template

  • CLICK HERE for a template if the bride has been married before and has reverted back to her maiden name

  • CLICK HERE for a template if either the bride or groom and has changed his or her name via deed poll 

NOTARY OR SOLICITOR? 

It can be a solicitor as long as they have their signature registered with the legalisation office or it can be a notary who will automatically have this

HAVE YOU BEEN MARRIED BEFORE?

I’ve been reading that many of you have been having issues getting the apostille stamp on your Decree Absolute due to it needing a “wet seal” So I’ve been chatting to Simon at MSC Solicitors and Notaries and he shared the follow advice.

Essentially if the decree is signed by someone at the court or has a red ink stamp of the court then, (called the wet seal) provided they submit the original to the FCO, they can get it apostillled directly.

If the decree has a black stamp/seal of the court (this is the case for most of them) then it will need to be certified/notarised by a notary before it can be apostillled.

Need help with your apostille stamp contact Simon and his team for a swift and efficient service.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TOWN HALL WILL KEEP YOUR DECREE ABSOLUTES SO IF YOU WANT TO KEEP A COPY THEN PLEASE ARRANGE TO TAKE A PHOTOCOPY BEFORE COMING TO CYPRUS. 

IF YOU HAVE BEEN MARRIED BEFORE AND REVERTED BACK TO YOUR BIRTH / MAIDEN NAME THEN PLEASE MAKE SURE THIS IS COVERED WHEN YOU DO YOUR STATUTORY DECLARATION - CLICK HERE for the template

HAVE CHANGED YOUR NAME BY DEED POLL BEFORE?

Rather than getting your original apostille stamped we suggest getting notarised true copy and getting this apostille stamped so you will always have your original. 

HOW AND WHERE TO GET THE APPOSTILE STAMP

 

OPTION 1
Apply directly to the UK gov this can take upto 4 weeks sometimes longer - the current cost is £30 per document. https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised this is taking approx 5 to 6 weeks with the current backlog.

 

OPTION 2
If you prefer to have some assistance with this and get the documents back much quicker we have found a specialist agent who can assist you. Please quote Tie the Knot Cyprus when contacting the agent so you get a special rate starting from €50 to £70 depending on how many documents you have to get stamped plus any courier fee’s

 

OPTION 3

Check out https://www.hagueapostille.co.uk/ a special page created just for Tie the Knot Couples offering you a discount 

OPTION 4

If you prefer you can find a local agent who specializes in this service to help you with this.

DO YOU HOLD A UK PASSPORT BUT LIVE OR WORK IN CYPRUS WITH EITHER A YELLOW OR PINK SLIP? IF SO 

  1. You need all of the above documents for a standard UK passport you can arrange to sign the Statutory Declaration via video link, we can help advise on this. We suggest contacting Simon - MSC Solicitors and Notaries info@mscnotaries.com and he can arrange one of his notaries to help you with this there will be a charge but this will be cheaper tan returning to the UK to get this document in person. 

  2. You’ll need to attend the Paphos Town Court in order to get your signed and stamped Affidavit from the Court here in Cyprus. This is a simple process and cost just €5.

  3. If you go into the main courthouse building there is a small booth to your left-hand side with glass around it, ask the lady there for freedmen to marry Affidavit form and she will give you one, at first glance it will be in greek but if you look carefully it is also in English. Fill in the blanks with your information, and take your passport and any divorce papers with you.

  4. You’ll then need to get the stamp to put on the Affidavit, check with the lady in the booth but usually you get this from the first office on the right-hand side as you enter the court building, this stamp is like a postage stamp, and costs €5 you’ll need one each if there is two of you. You’ll need to pay in cash for these stamps.

  5. Once you have the completed form and the stamp take them back to the lady in the glass booth give her the completed form the stamp and your passport, she will check the information and sign and stamp it on behalf of the court.

bottom of page