Planning a Destination Wedding? Visit Vancouver's Apostille Office First

Congratulations on deciding to have a destination wedding! If you're having a civil (legal) wedding in Mexico, Dominican Repubic, Cuba, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Tahiti, or Fiji, etc... you don't want legal problems to set you back when you arrive. You want to "get hitched, without a hitch!" This article explains the legal process and how Brosgall Legal | Apostille Services can assist. After you've finished reading this article, you can print the information postcard attached at the very bottom and put it into your wedding folder for easy reference.  You can also view a sample Apostille certificate below.

In a recent survey quoted by the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada, 1 in 5 Canadian couples (almost 27,000 couples per year) hire a Wedding Coordinator. As you can expect, with destination weddings, these numbers climb even higher. In fact, it wouldn't be unusual if you have several people working with you... from a local wedding planner in Vancouver, to a wedding coordinator at the destination resort. You've probably picked a travel agent who specializes in destination weddings too. And then there's the dedicated hotel and resort staff you're in contact with that will make the magic happen on the big day. Unfortunately, many people leave all the official paperwork and legalities to the very last minute... often until it's too late. But you should be aware that if you're planning a legal destination wedding (not just a symbolic ceremony), the legal paperwork is absolutely necessary.

Brosgall Legal specializes in this type of work, and we're proudly local; not a national or out-of-province business that attempts to match you up with a contracting notary here in Vancouver, BC. You deal directly with us. So, if you have any questions, or want to book an appointment, please send us an email or call us at 604-685-2326. You can also visit our home page for further information. 

SO, YOU'VE BEEN TOLD TO GET AN 'APOSTILLE'... NOW WHAT?!

Canadian citizens who are getting married overseas must have their documentation Apostilled to be considered valid overseas. In fact you were probably told to get your documentation Apostilled... and this is exactly what Brosgall Legal does. Apostille certification is a unique process where the validity of a document is verified, so that your document becomes valid for use in the foreign country. Our clients most often need their birth certificates and identification to be Apostilled. 

VARYING INTERNATIONAL LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

Whether you are planning a destination wedding in Mexico, the Caribbean, or some other exotic locale, every country has their own set of legal requirements for legal weddings. While symbolic ceremonies don't typically have legal requirements, legal weddings always have very specific requirements that must be complied with, often before you even arrive at your foreign destination. Regrettably, these requirements sometimes even vary between territories, states, or provinces within a single foreign country. While every country is different, the next section of this artice will explain the legal requirements for a typical destination wedding; in this case Puerto Vallarta. While everything might seem daunting at first, if you stay in touch with your wedding coordinator, and call us to do the legal work, you'll be just fine.  

SAMPLE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A DESTINATION WEDDING

As explained above, each jurisdiction has particular requirements that must be complied with for a legal wedding to proceed. As an example, here we'll focus on the legal requirements of the Mexican State of Jalisco - where the popular wedding destination, Puerto Vallarta, is located. When you first contact your wedding coordinator, they will probably ask you for your nationalities.  Here are the typical details:

1. Each couple must provide certified copies of their birth certificate. They must use the 'long form' version (which has the parents' information).
2. Canadians must have their birth certificate Apostilled in Canada.
3. If a party has been married before, they need to provide the divorce or death certificate. Again, these must also be Apostilled.

THE APOSTILLE PROCESS

Keep in mind that the above process is specific for Puerto Vallarta only, and may change over time. As every country is different, other wedding destinations will have different requirements. These can include the documents that are needed, the method of translation, the authentication process, statutory declarations, affidavits, fees, and timing, etc... The procedure for Apostilling documents for use in other countries can be fairly complicated, as it isn't something that people do every day. Brosgall Legal - Apostille Services would be pleased to assist you with all of your Apostille requirements. 

SPECIALIZED NOTARY EXPERIENCE THAT COUNTS

Getting documents ready for use abroad can be frustrating and time consuming. Quite often, our clients simply prefer us to handle everything to ensure a perfect outcome before they head overseas for their big day. Brosgall Legal will present you with your Apostilled documentation, completely valid and ready for use at your destination wedding; or for delivery to your overseas wedding coordinator. In essence, we take a very complicated process, and make your life simple.

THE ADVANTAGES OF USING BROSGALL LEGAL FOR YOUR DESTINATION WEDDING NEEDS

1. Peace of mind - of course, this is the main reason that clients use our services - we regularly Apostille documents, and we'll ensure your important documentation is handled professionally.
2. Speed - Mr. Brosgall has his signature and seal on file at every relevent government office in Victoria, Vancouver and Ottawa, and he is familiar with the process. Most lawyers and notaries simply do not offer this kind of service and speed.
3. Streamlined Process - If you've never tried to Apostille documents before, it can be a difficult and frustrating process. Brosgall Legal takes care of all the details and presents you with the finished product.
4. Convenience - When you use Brosgall Legal, we take care of everything on your behalf, and we get it right.

VANCOUVER NOTARY PUBLIC, COMMISSIONER OF OATHS, AND LAWYER

Brosgall Legal's owner and principal, Adam Brosgall, is an experienced Vancouver Notary Public, Commissioner of Oaths, and Lawyer. He is fully qualified, licenced, and insured to deal with statutory declarations, certified copying, international notarizations, and Apostilles. If you have any questions, please feel free to send an email, or call 604-685-2326 to book an appointment. Same day service and walk-ins are welcome. Please see our Vancouver Notary home page for our other services, and we look forward to seeing you.