Community Forum

asettlemoir · 12-29-2011, 10:33 PM

Does anyone have a sample letter of intent they would like to share with me? Getting married in Aruba in July 2012 at RIU. Starting early to get things in order...

Dicentra · 12-29-2011, 11:36 PM

We got married in Aruba in September 2009 and used this document for the letter of intent (zipped, and I hope I attached it correctly, if not, PM me). It was accepted with no problems. I don't know if requirements have changed since then.

asettlemoir · 12-30-2011, 08:19 AM

Thanks for such a quick response!! What a pain to gather all the appropriate documents!!

asettlemoir · 12-30-2011, 08:26 AM

One last question...is the letter of intent supposed to be notarized?

Dicentra · 12-30-2011, 06:55 PM

It was a just a lucky coincidence that I happened to check to forum right after you posted your question.

As for whether it should be notarized, I honestly don't remember and the documents in question now reside in Aruba (I didn't keep copies). I want to say no, we didn't get the letters of intent notarized, but I'm not absolutely sure. I'm pretty sure we did get the affidavits of single status notarized, but that was because the state of Massachusetts does not issue such a document so I had to type up our own.
We had to get apostilles for the birth certificates. Any documents related to previous marriages (i.e. divorce decrees) need them as well.
It is a pain getting all this paperwork together, but I think it was totally worth it. The ceremony was beautiful, the Civil Town House was beautiful, and Mr. Christiaans was so nice. I loved getting married in Aruba.
Best wishes on your upcoming wedding!

asettlemoir · 12-31-2011, 06:56 AM

Thanks for the info. I'm in Michigan and we have a certificate of no marriage that I sent an application in for, can take up to 6 weeks to get the document. So, I will wait for that and get all the other documents together (birth certs and death cert for my first husband) then take it all in for the apostille. Glad I started early since it takes a while to get everything in order! But, I know it will all be worth it!

Bill · 12-31-2011, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dicentra

It was a just a lucky coincidence that I happened to check to forum right after you posted your question.

As for whether it should be notarized, I honestly don't remember and the documents in question now reside in Aruba (I didn't keep copies). I want to say no, we didn't get the letters of intent notarized, but I'm not absolutely sure. I'm pretty sure we did get the affidavits of single status notarized, but that was because the state of Massachusetts does not issue such a document so I had to type up our own.
We had to get apostilles for the birth certificates. Any documents related to previous marriages (i.e. divorce decrees) need them as well.
It is a pain getting all this paperwork together, but I think it was totally worth it. The ceremony was beautiful, the Civil Town House was beautiful, and Mr. Christiaans was so nice. I loved getting married in Aruba.
Best wishes on your upcoming wedding!

Being the worry wart I am I would get it notarized if there is any doubt. I'd rather have to much than not enough. Good luck and CONGRATULATIONS!

*Andrea J.* · 12-31-2011, 04:45 PM

my husband was reading this thread a short while ago and asked "why would one bother with all of that paperwork stuff? could they just not get married at home at their own town hall and do the beach ceremony on aruba?"
i told him lots do just that for probably just that reason.

Karen Lutzker · 01-05-2012, 04:01 PM

First of all, the Letter of Intent is just a very simple form that accompanies the required documents that one must obtain to get married at the Aruba Town Hall. That form is provided by the Aruba Civil Registrar. Basicially a couple would follow the instructions which asks for name, address, date of civil ceremony, with questions the names of former spouses if divorced or names of spouses that are deseased. If that is the case copies of final divorce decree(s) first and last pages or copies of death certificate. If this is the first marriage for both, that portion of the Letter of Intent is left blank. Once all the information is provided, both the bride and groom sign under their information. Most of the resports have people that can assist with civil ceremonies as it can be a very complicated task to have the documents processed if the couple attempts to plan to arrange their civil ceremony directly with the Aruba Civl Registrar. Since the bride that asked the question is staying at RIU, they can ask the wedding planner there to assist them with their civil ceremony preparations. Just a point of information, years ago the Aruba Civil Registrar didnot allow foreigners to be married in a civil ceremony, which by the way makes the marriage legal. At that time, a couple either had to be Dutch or Arubian. Years passed and then the Aruba Civil Registrar granted permission to foreigners to get married in an Aruba Civil Ceremony. Before that time, in order to make the marriage legal in the couples country of origin, they had to be married in a civil ceremony in their own country. There was no choice in the matter. Now the couples have that choice. If it is their budget, it is lovely to have their civil ceremony in the Aruba Town Hall. But, if it is not in their budget, there is nothing wrong in having their civil ceremony in their own country and their beach ceremony in Aruba.

asettlemoir · 01-06-2012, 03:18 PM

We want to really be able to say we got married in Aruba!! That's why we are jumping through the hoops and getting the paperwork together. It's really not too bad once you know what each document is and where to get it!

12-29-2011, 10:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
asettlemoir Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 7	Letter of Intent??? Does anyone have a sample letter of intent they would like to share with me? Getting married in Aruba in July 2012 at RIU. Starting early to get things in order... Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Share Post on Facebook

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12-30-2011, 08:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
asettlemoir Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 7	Thanks for such a quick response!! What a pain to gather all the appropriate documents!! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Share Post on Facebook

12-30-2011, 08:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
asettlemoir Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 7	One last question...is the letter of intent supposed to be notarized? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Share Post on Facebook

12-30-2011, 06:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dicentra Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 18	It was a just a lucky coincidence that I happened to check to forum right after you posted your question. As for whether it should be notarized, I honestly don't remember and the documents in question now reside in Aruba (I didn't keep copies). I want to say no, we didn't get the letters of intent notarized, but I'm not absolutely sure. I'm pretty sure we did get the affidavits of single status notarized, but that was because the state of Massachusetts does not issue such a document so I had to type up our own. We had to get apostilles for the birth certificates. Any documents related to previous marriages (i.e. divorce decrees) need them as well. It is a pain getting all this paperwork together, but I think it was totally worth it. The ceremony was beautiful, the Civil Town House was beautiful, and Mr. Christiaans was so nice. I loved getting married in Aruba. Best wishes on your upcoming wedding! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Share Post on Facebook

12-31-2011, 06:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
asettlemoir Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 7	Thanks for the info. I'm in Michigan and we have a certificate of no marriage that I sent an application in for, can take up to 6 weeks to get the document. So, I will wait for that and get all the other documents together (birth certs and death cert for my first husband) then take it all in for the apostille. Glad I started early since it takes a while to get everything in order! But, I know it will all be worth it! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Share Post on Facebook

12-31-2011, 04:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
Andrea J. Aruba since 1979 Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: renaissance island, eagle beach, amsterdam manor/passions beach bar, Hung Paradis, alto vista chapel, madam janettes, big porch at B55 Posts: 13,254 Images: 80	my husband was reading this thread a short while ago and asked "why would one bother with all of that paperwork stuff? could they just not get married at home at their own town hall and do the beach ceremony on aruba?" i told him lots do just that for probably just that reason. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Share Post on Facebook __________________ Please, I'll have a Grande' decaf Mocha Latte' with a shot of liquid tranquilizer.

01-05-2012, 04:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
Karen Lutzker Banned Join Date: May 2007 Location: The beaches and the sea Posts: 381 Images: 9	Letter of Intent First of all, the Letter of Intent is just a very simple form that accompanies the required documents that one must obtain to get married at the Aruba Town Hall. That form is provided by the Aruba Civil Registrar. Basicially a couple would follow the instructions which asks for name, address, date of civil ceremony, with questions the names of former spouses if divorced or names of spouses that are deseased. If that is the case copies of final divorce decree(s) first and last pages or copies of death certificate. If this is the first marriage for both, that portion of the Letter of Intent is left blank. Once all the information is provided, both the bride and groom sign under their information. Most of the resports have people that can assist with civil ceremonies as it can be a very complicated task to have the documents processed if the couple attempts to plan to arrange their civil ceremony directly with the Aruba Civl Registrar. Since the bride that asked the question is staying at RIU, they can ask the wedding planner there to assist them with their civil ceremony preparations. Just a point of information, years ago the Aruba Civil Registrar didnot allow foreigners to be married in a civil ceremony, which by the way makes the marriage legal. At that time, a couple either had to be Dutch or Arubian. Years passed and then the Aruba Civil Registrar granted permission to foreigners to get married in an Aruba Civil Ceremony. Before that time, in order to make the marriage legal in the couples country of origin, they had to be married in a civil ceremony in their own country. There was no choice in the matter. Now the couples have that choice. If it is their budget, it is lovely to have their civil ceremony in the Aruba Town Hall. But, if it is not in their budget, there is nothing wrong in having their civil ceremony in their own country and their beach ceremony in Aruba. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Share Post on Facebook

01-06-2012, 03:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
asettlemoir Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 7	We want to really be able to say we got married in Aruba!! That's why we are jumping through the hoops and getting the paperwork together. It's really not too bad once you know what each document is and where to get it! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Share Post on Facebook Andrea J. likes this.