Puerto Rico Wedding Laws
What to expect when officiating a wedding.
Quick Facts for Wedding Officiants in Puerto Rico
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Ordination Accepted: Yes
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Minister Registration Required: Yes
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Minister’s Residency: Not Required
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Minister’s Minimum Age: 18 Years Old
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Marriage License Waiting Period: None
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Marriage License Valid For: 10 Days
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Marriage License Must Be Returned: Within 10 Days of the Ceremony
Steps to Perform a Wedding in Puerto Rico
1. Become an Ordained Minister
Ministers who wish to officiate weddings in Puerto Rico must be ordained. Ministries of Love offers free ordination for people of all faiths and beliefs. If you’re not already ordained, you can complete the ordination request online quickly and easily.
2. Contact the Local Authorities
To ensure the wedding is legally binding, contact both the Departamento de Hacienda and the Demographic Registrar offices. These offices will provide details about the necessary documents and steps required for officiating a wedding in Puerto Rico.
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Departamento de Hacienda
Address: 10 Paseo Covadonga, San Juan, PR 00901
Phone: 787-721-2020 -
Demographic Registrar
Address: 500 Ochoa Bld, Tanca St, Old San Juan, PR 00902
Phone: 787-767-9120
Let them know you are a minister officiating a wedding and ask for the list of required documents.
3. Gather Required Documentation
Based on feedback from other ministers, you may need:
- Ordination Credential
- Certified Letter of Good Standing
- Government-Issued I.D.
- 2×2 Passport-Style Photo
- IRS Stamp
Ministers of Love can provide ordination credentials and letters of good standing. Check with local authorities for additional requirements, as they may vary.
4. Assist the Couple with Marriage License Requirements
All marriage licenses in Puerto Rico are issued by the Demographic Registrar in Old San Juan. The couple is responsible for obtaining the license, but you can guide them by ensuring they know the following requirements:
- Photo I.D.
- Affidavit of Intent to Marry
- Copies of Birth Certificates
- Medical Examination by a doctor on the island
The marriage license is valid for 10 days after issuance, so the wedding must occur within this time frame.
5. Perform the Wedding Ceremony
The ceremony must include:
- Physical presence of the minister and the couple.
- The couple’s verbal consent to marry.
- The minister’s pronouncement of the couple as married.
The ceremony can be customized to suit the couple’s preferences, as long as the legal elements are included.
6. Submit the Marriage License
After the ceremony, the completed and signed marriage license must be returned to the Demographic Registrar within 10 days of the wedding.
Legal Reference
Marriage in Puerto Rico is governed by Chapter 31 of Title 31 of the Code of Puerto Rico. It allows ordained ministers, judges, rabbis, and other authorized individuals to solemnize marriages.
Excerpt:
“All regularly licensed or ordained priests or other ministers of the Gospel, Jewish rabbis, and the judges of the Supreme Court, judges of the Appeals Court, judges of the Court of the First Instance, the judges of the United States District Court for Puerto Rico, may celebrate the marriage rites between all persons legally authorized to marry.”