Hello everyone,

I haven't seen this subject addressed on here but I'm hoping someone can help me. My husband and I got married on 3/17 at City Hall in Aruba by Betto Christiaans. He performed a wonderful, intimate ceremony and provided us with a non-translated marriage license and promised to send the English version later since nobody was available that day to do it. However, it's now been 7 weeks and still no translated license, even after multiple unanswered telephone calls (is there ever anyone there??) and an unanswered email to Betto...what should I do? I can't change my driver's license, social security card, or even my checks without proof of my marriage. Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Lori

Lori and Scott.......JUST MARRIED IN ARUBA!
March 17, 2008

You might have gotten caught in the gov't workers strike that was on. for 6 wks. Keep trying. Pls. remember things are slow in aruba, if i were you i would call again. cindyo

Cindyo
Daughters on Rennaissance Island
"LETS GO RED SOX "


Next Aruba trip in

I got married July 3, 2007 and I did not receive my translated marriage certificate until October of 07. I used a wedding coordinator that I kept in contact with and she kept me posted, but it did take a while. Good Luck!

Angela

Wow, I had no idea it would take that long. Thanks for the responses, I guess I just need to be a little more patient.

Lori and Scott.......JUST MARRIED IN ARUBA!
March 17, 2008

Your translated marriage certificate should never have taken two months to receive! In my experience no one that I have delt with had to wait that long. Yes, they do get very backed up with the many civil ceremonies that take place on any given day, both local residents and foreigners, however no one should have to wait that long. I am very familar with Aruba Civil House ceremonies and know the Civil Registrar very well. Once your civil ceremony takes place, your marriage certificate written in Dutch is sent out to a local translator and then returned back to the Civil Registrar. If you used a wedding planner it is that individuals responsibility to follow up on your behalf to expedite your translated marriage certificate!

http://www.cayenaweddingsandevents.com
Your Aruba Wedding Planner

a thought: (as ridiculous as it seems)

if you really need to change your social and your license and all of the other stuff needing changing that requires proof of marriage................... could you go to your local city /town hall and get married again there? or would that cause legal difficulties since you are already married?

ok, back to packing

Kevin @ USS Constitution at his commissioning from Midshipman to Ensign 6/20/08

Hey Lori,

I didn't know that you haven't received this yet. I have to go down that area tomorrow so I'll look into this for you and send you an email.

I've sent you an email this morning as well concerning the DVD.

Happy Mother's Day to you,

Bryan Morris

Aruba's Premier Wedding Photographer

Once you are married in a civil ceremony in Aruba, your marriage is considered legal in the United States once you provide certified copies of your translated marriage certificate which was translated from Dutch to English. You will also be receiving the Dutch Marriage Certificate that both of you signed in the civil house. When you receive your documents, you make 5 to 6 copies of your translated marriage certificate and bring to a notary to be notarized. It sounds like a good idea to go to your local courthouse to be married again, but you are already legally married and would not be allowed to be married in a civil ceremony again in your home city and state. Hopefully Brian Morris will be able to investigate to see what happened to your translated marriage certificate. Good Luck!

http://www.cayenaweddingsandevents.com
Your Aruba Wedding Planner

Karen, thank you for your valuable input. Eight weeks and still no certificate but hopefully Bryan can "light a fire" for me! What do I do with the notarized copies of the translated certificate? My local court house in Ohio told me it was legal and nothing further was required on our part.
Thanks!!

Lori and Scott.......JUST MARRIED IN ARUBA!
March 17, 2008

That is a bit odd that it is taking so long for you. My wife and I were married at the town hall last Tuesday the 6th. Our coordinator dropped off the translated documents to our hotel Thursday the 8th.

However, I am still a bit confused as to what to do now. I called the NJ department of vital statistics and they say we dont need to do anything to register the marriage here in the states. Apparently it's all legal here and my wife can use the translated certificate to do the name change etc.... At least I hope so