Marriage in Jardin Colombia

You need a Certificado de Soltería document, a certification that you are not married/have never been married.  This is a document which has no official issuance in most of the United States, so, per this US Embassy to Colombia page:

https://co.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-se … es-public/

Click on Affidavit of Single Status / Marriages, which reads, in part,
"Colombian notaries will usually ask both spouses to present proof that they are eligible to marry — in other words, that they are not currently married. No such document exists in many jurisdictions in the United States and most U.S. citizens will therefore have to discuss with the notary what substitutes will be acceptable. Some notaries may allow you to present an Affidavit of Single Status issued by the U.S. Embassy."

The page goes on to say you can make a notary appointment at either the US Embassy in Bogotá, or the US Consulate in Barranquilla, to get a document that should be acceptable to the Colombian notary - but as it says, discuss this with the Colombian notary first, to establish his/her requirements as to what is acceptable.

It may also be possible, according to this Cancillería page of Colombia, to use two witnesses who under oath will swear that you are not married, to get a Declaración de Soltería from the Cancillería:
http://www.cancilleria.gov.co/en/node/3697

"¿Cómo solicito una Declaración de Soltería?
Debe presentar 2 testigos que, bajo la gravedad de juramento, declaren el estado civil del interesado. Todos los testigos y el interesado deben identificarse debidamente con cédula de ciudadanía o pasaporte vigente."

If you go this route I would contact them to ask exactly what all the trámites are:
Contact Phone 24/7:

Líneas de atención al ciudadano: Bogotá: +57 (1) 3826999 - Número gratuito nacional: 01 8000 938 000

Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Palacio de San Carlos: Calle 10 # 5-51 Bogotá D.C., Colombia
Horarios y puntos de atención: ingrese a este enlace.
Conmutador: (57-1) 3814000 - Fax. (57-1) 3814747
Información de trámites y servicios: (57-1) 3826999
Correo institucional: contactenos@cancilleria.gov.co
Correo físico: Carrera 5 # 9-03, Bogotá 
Código postal: 111711

https://www.google.com.co/maps/place/Em … EnoECAoQCw

Will follow up if I have success there.

Whoa Nellie!

Let's see if we can simplify this thing.

I recommend that the OP visit a notaría in Jardín and ask how this trámite can be processed exitosamente without making a trip to Distrito Capital or some other distant place such as Barranquilla.

Historically, visas have been processed in Bogotá by an ad hoc agent without the applicant being present in the city.  Why not this papeleo as well?

cccmedia

Thanks for the reply. Desafortunadamente there is only one notary here in Jardin. I tried to explain to them that there is no such paper that exists in the USA that says I have never been married. Hard to believe that it would actually be easier if I had been married in the USA as then you just need a copy of the divorce papers 

But I have a local friend here in Jardin that helps with just about everything I have trouble with and he is friends with the boss at the notary and he spoke with him and then he explained to me that all I need to do is go to the embajada americana medellín (link is in my post above) and basic I have to have them make up one.... sort of swear before them that I have never been married in the states kind of thing.... 

All seems kind of silly to me but I guess the only thing I can really do is play along with them.

I have been told that you can also go and try other notaries until you find one that does not ask for the paper... easy to do if you live in a big city like Medellin... but my good friend here in Jardin said that now all the notaries are tied together via the internet and that all of them now basically require the same paperwork to process a marriage request so.... not sure that even works anymore?

So it looks like another bus adventure to Medellin and back to see of I can get this made up paper that says I am an old single man that has never been married.

Will follow up with how things go and more detail about the paperwork that I will hopefully obtain.

duplicate post.. not sure why?

"I guess the only thing I can really do is play along with them..."

-----

Email the top bilingual attorneys for Expats -- Christophe Moeller or Alan Gongora at Langon Law -- and learn the right moves .. before you start traveling all over the place based on the geniuses   in the Jardín notary circle.

resource:  langoncolombia.com

digitalknight wrote:

...all of them now basically require the same paperwork to process a marriage request so.... not sure that even works anymore?

Anymore?  To my knowledge, at least since 1996 and I'm sure much longer a Certificado de Soltería has been required as a matter of course for all marriages in Colombia.

Rather than try to fight the system or get around it somehow it would be easier just to do what they require.   When in Rome...

Yes a Certificado de Soltería is required and is very easy for Colombians to get one as they have a system for that. As you mentioned in your post "This is a document which has no official issuance in most of the United States". So for someone like me, who has never been married and therefor never divorced I have no access to such a document,

I have spoken with Alan Gongora at length over the past 5 years including by Skype... definitely a great team there at  Langon Law cccmedia! I highly recommend them also!

Like I have already mentioned in my above posts... I will be traveling to Medellin in the not so distant future to go to the US Embassy there and see if they will make up such a document for me and will post back here what I discover.

Only a 3 hour trip (sin derrumbes) there and my fiance has to go there anyway for a meeting and a dentist follow-up visit so might as kill two (or three) birds with one stone... so to speak....

Why not just live together? Why do gringos or other foreigners always have to get married? 

Really harfmd por me to understand

Most Colombians dont do it

When.in Rome..

Quechimba wrote:

Why not just live together? Why do gringos or other foreigners always have to get married? 

Really harfmd por me to understand

Most Colombians dont do it

When.in Rome..

Here is Colombia, after 2 years of living together you are considered married, at this time the other person is entitled to 1/2, yeppers, 1/2 of everything you own.

I would rather go through the proper paperwork, with the proper prenup (capitulaciones matrimoniales) and make sure that my investments here are well protected.

Yeah, but you dont have to go through all that s***.

And if you dont have any assets in Colombia you dont have to worry-married or not.

And i say this from personal experience, not conjecture

So why go through all the hassle and paperwork and headache?

I hope it isnt HER idea...

Prenups arent worth the paper they are written on..in any country

I also know that from personal experience

Best dont have any "investments" in Colombia

Another thing , I dont know who you are talking to for legal advice, cuz its BS

Its one half of your joint assets acumulated after the marriage, like anywhere else.

And if you think she wont put an "embargo" on the house (even if you owned it before the marriage) or whatever and give you a lot of headaches just because of a Pre Nup, you are deluded.

Even a maid can put an embargo on your house, if she thinks you did not treat her fairly.

I hate to give a guy advice on Mariage in Colombia, but if you want to get married and have it registered in Colombia with allthe BS,there are a number of neighbouring Carribean Islands and Latin nations where you can get married, then get it registered in the Colombian consulate or embassy, then "Presto" you are married in Colombia.

Another option to become a slave

Another thing. To be in a Unión Libre hoy have to go to a Notaría and both signs a form. Otherwise its her Word against yours and the onus is on her to prove you were living together

And being in a Unión Libre in no way prevents you from having a prenuptial.

I know lots of guys in that posición.

Still the best óptimo is no.possessions in Colombia and no.marriage.Punto cerrado

I know it’s an older thread but...
Can this be done in the States ?
Obtaining this document and have it notarized, and can it be Apostilled ?
I need to be prepared for everything.