OF MEMPHIS IN TENNESSEE PRENUPTIAL INVESTIGATION (including validations and sanations)

MARRIAGE CEREMONY INFORMATION

Groom: Bride: Full Legal Name Full Legal Name

Place of : Name of Church City & State

Date of Wedding: (Include a copy of signed civil marriage certificate in the file.)

Witnesses: and

Priest/Deacon Officiating at Marriage:

If validating a civil union or seeking a sanation, date of the civil ceremony: * If the parties have attempted marriage civilly and now wish to marry each other in the , then at the Catholic ceremony they must have the intention of giving marital consent as if they were not already married. There is no "blessing" of an already existing union.

RECORD OF PERMISSIONS & DISPENSATIONS Delegation: For a Catholic marriage to be contracted validly, the priest or deacon receiving the vows must be the pastor of the territory where the marriage takes place, the local ordinary, or someone delegated by one of them. Priests and deacons who have received faculties from the Bishop of Memphis have already received delegation for assisting at marriage within the territory of the to which they are assigned.

Delegation granted (if needed) by: Date:

Mixed Marriage: If a Catholic and a baptized non-Catholic intend to marry, permission must be obtained from the local ordinary. Priests who have received faculties from the Bishop of Memphis may give this permission without consulting the local ordinary.

Delegation granted (if needed) by: Date:

Disparity of Cult: If either the bride or the groom is not baptized, the marriage cannot be contracted validly without a dispensation from the impediment of by the local ordinary. If there is doubt about the fact of a party's or the validity of a party's baptism, a dispensation from the impediment of disparity of cult ad cautelam (as a precaution) should be obtained. (See Petition for Dispensations.)

Delegation granted (if needed) by: Date:

Dispensation from Impediments: If there are other impediments to marriage, a dispensation must be obtained for any dispensable impediment from the local ordinary. (For information about impediments to marriage, see page 2.)

Delegation granted (if needed) by: Date:

1 IMPORTANT INFORMATION REQUIRED DOCUMENTS Baptismal Certificates (and Profession of Faith Certificates) for bride and groom (issued within the last six months) Two Witness Affidavits for bride and two Witness Affidavits for groom attesting to freedom to marry* (s) (if applicable) Death Certificate(s) (if applicable)* For a baptized non-Catholic, a Baptismal Certificate OR two Witness Affidavits attesting to baptism Certificate of Completion of Diocesan Marriage Preparation Program** Certificate of Completion of Natural Family Planning Class** Certificate of Completion of FOCCUS Inventory** If a dispensation or permission is needed, complete the Petition for Dispensation and forward all of the above to the Office of the Chancellor. If the wedding will be celebrated outside the Diocese of Memphis, attach the Testimonial Letters or Nihil Obstat form and mail all of the above documents to: Office of the Chancellor, 5825 Shelby Oaks Drive, Memphis, TN 38134. The form can be found at www.cdom.org/chancellor . * If the priest/deacon preparing the couple knows with certainty that both parties have not been married previously or that a previous spouse is deceased, these documents are not necessary. If, however, the wedding will take place outside of the Diocese of Memphis, they are required. ** If preparing for a validation or sanation of a civil marriage that has lasted more than five years, the completion of these premarital requirements is at the discretion of the Pastor.

REFERENCE GUIDE FOR MARRIAGE IMPEDIMENTS If you have any questions, please contact the chancery. 1. Impediments of Divine Natural Law that cannot be dispensed by anyone: A) Impotence: Antecedent and perpetual incapacity of groom/bride to perform a complete conjugal act, i.e., marital sexual intercourse. Sterility or the inability to impregnate or to conceive is not an impediment. B) Prior Bond (): A person with a prior marriage bond cannot marry again as long as the first spouse is living since the marriage is presumed valid. If a decree of declaration of nullity or a dissolution is granted by a Catholic Chancery/Tribunal, then the person could be free to marry. C) : Blood relationships in the direct line, any ancestor and descendant, i.e. parent, grandparent, etc., or in the second degree of the collateral line, i.e. brother and sister, legitimate, natural, or adoptive. 2. Impediments of Ecclesiastical Law that a diocesan bishop or local Ordinary may dispense: A) Disparity of Cult: Is required for a marriage between a Catholic and a non-baptized person. B) Perpetual Vow of Chastity: If the person is a member of a of diocesan right, not pontifical. C) Abduction: A marriage between a man and a woman whom he abducts or detains in order to marry. D) Consanguinity: Blood relationships in the collateral line, e.g. first cousin. E) Affinity: Marrying someone who became a relative of the person through a valid marriage to some family member and is now free to marry, never in the direct line, in any degree. F) : A man/woman cannot marry a woman/man related by consanguinity in the first degree of the direct line to the woman/man he/she lived with together in an invalid marriage or in a notorious or public concubinage. 3. Impediments of Ecclesiastical Law that only the Holy See may dispense: A) Sacred Orders: Ordained Deacon or Priest without Laicization. B) Perpetual Vow of Chastity: In a religious institute of . C) Crime: Murdering one’s spouse or someone else’s in view of marriage, or any mutual physical or moral action that causes the death of either’s spouse to marry the surviving spouse. 2 GROOM

Full Name: Date of Birth:

Address: Number/Street (include Apartment/Unit #) City/State/Zip Code Phone: Email: Home/Work/Cellular: (Area Code) Number Father’s Name: Religion: Rite (If Eastern Catholic) Mother’s Name: Religion: (Include mother’s maiden name) Rite (If Eastern Catholic) Groom’s Religion: Did it ever change? *If not baptized, obtain a dispensation from Disparity of Cult. If yes: When/What Religion(s) Place of Baptism: (Obtain recently issued baptismal certificate) Name of Church City/State Date If Eastern Catholic, indicate which Rite: Within what parish do you live? Name of Parish City/State Profession of Faith (if applicable): (Obtain recently issued certificate, if not already noted on baptismal certificate) Name of Parish City/State Have you received First Penance and Holy Communion? Yes No (If not, arrange for preparation and reception of sacraments) If yes: Name of Church City/State Date Have you received Confirmation? Yes No (If not, arrange for preparation and reception of sacrament) If yes: Name of Church City/State Date

Respond to the following and explain any responses marked with an asterisk (*). For #8, #10a-f, and #11, an asterisked response may prevent a couple from marrying. For #4-6, see impediments on page 2. Contact the Chancery if you have any questions. 1) How long have you known the bride? Length of courtship? Length of engagement? 2) Are you contracting marriage: A) for the purpose of truly seeking marriage itself B) for another purpose? A B* 3) Do you regularly participate in the practice of your faith? Yes No* 4) Have you ever been married before (any church, civil, etc.)? (If yes, go to page 7) Yes* No 5) Are you related to your fiancée by blood or legal adoption, or has she married previously into your

family? Yes* No 6) Are you or your fiancée bound by the impediments of age, sacred orders, public perpetual vow of chastity in a religious institute, abduction, crime, or public propriety? (See page 2) Yes* No 7) Have you ever experienced/been treated for any psychological/emotional/addiction-related difficulty? Yes* No If yes, is it resolved? Yes No*

3 8) Have you undergone surgery in order to attempt a sex-change or in any other manner taken measures in an attempt to change your gender? Yes* No 9) Have you signed or do you intend to sign a prenuptial agreement? (If yes, attach a copy of the agreement) Yes* No 10) Do you understand and agree without reservation to the nature and obligations of marriage, namely: a. To give oneself to the other to form a common partnership of love and life? Yes No* b. To share in marital intercourse? Yes No* Have you ever been diagnosed with impotence? Yes* No c. To give your spouse the right to sexual relations open to the procreation of children and to see to the fulfillment of obligations related to the Catholic religious/moral upbringing of children? Yes No* d. To make a permanent commitment until the death of your spouse? Yes No* e. To be faithful to your spouse throughout the entire marriage? Yes No* f. To give your consent freely and willingly, without being forced or pressured by anyone/any circumstance? If there is suspicion of pressure being exerted, an explanation is needed. Yes No* (Ex. Is your fiancée pregnant? etc.) 11) Are you placing any conditions on/or do you have any serious reservations about this marriage? Yes* No 12) Would your fiancée agree with your answers to these questions if she knew them? Yes No* 13) Is there any important fact about you which you have not shared with your fiancée? (e.g., abortions, addictions, illness, trouble with the law, indebtedness, sterility, sexuality, child(ren) from a prior relationship, etc.) Yes* No 14) If groom or bride is age 17 or younger please ask: Do both parents consent to this marriage? Yes No* 15) Do you have any children from any previous relationship? If yes, are the moral and civil Yes* No responsibilities to any former spouse(s) and any child(ren) being fulfilled? Yes No* Explain here any response given above which included an asterisk (*):

I swear that all the information I have given above is the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.

Signature of Groom Date Signed

Signature of Priest or Deacon Type/Print Name

[Parish Seal] Place Signed 4 BRIDE

Full Name: Date of Birth:

Address: Number/Street (include Apartment/Unit #) City/State/Zip Code Phone: Email: Home/Work/Cellular: (Area Code) Number Father’s Name: Religion: Rite (If Eastern Catholic) Mother’s Name: Religion: (Include mother’s maiden name) Rite (If Eastern Catholic) Bride’s Religion: Did it ever change? *If not baptized, obtain a dispensation from Disparity of Cult. If yes: When/What Religion(s) Place of Baptism: (Obtain recently issued baptismal certificate) Name of Church City/State Date If Eastern Catholic, indicate which Rite: Within what parish do you live? Name of Parish City/State Profession of Faith (if applicable): (Obtain recently issued certificate, if not already noted on baptismal certificate) Name of Parish City/State Have you received First Penance and Holy Communion? Yes No (If not, arrange for preparation and reception of sacraments) If yes: Name of Church City/State Date Have you received Confirmation? Yes No (If not, arrange for preparation and reception of sacrament) If yes: Name of Church City/State Date

Respond to the following and explain any responses marked with an asterisk (*). For #8, #10a-f, and #11, an asterisked response may prevent a couple from marrying. For #4-6, see impediments on page 2. Contact the Chancery if you have any questions. 1) How long have you known the groom? Length of courtship? Length of engagement? 2) Are you contracting marriage: A) for the purpose of truly seeking marriage itself B) for another purpose? A B* 3) Do you regularly participate in the practice of your faith? Yes No* 4) Have you ever been married before (any church, civil, etc.)? (If yes, go to page 7) Yes* No 5) Are you related to your fiancé by blood or legal adoption, or has he married previously into your Yes* No family? 6) Are you or your fiancé bound by the impediments of age, sacred orders, public perpetual vow of chastity in a religious institute, abduction, crime, or public propriety? (See page 2) Yes* No 7) Have you ever experienced/been treated for any psychological/emotional/addiction-related difficulty? Yes* No Yes No* If yes, is it resolved?

5 8) Have you undergone surgery in order to attempt a sex-change or in any other manner taken measures in an attempt to change your gender? Yes* No 9) Have you signed or do you intend to sign a prenuptial agreement? (If yes, attach a copy of the agreement) Yes* No 10) Do you understand and agree without reservation to the nature and obligations of marriage, namely: a. To give oneself to the other to form a common partnership of love and life? Yes No* b. To share in marital intercourse? Yes No* Have you ever been diagnosed with impotence? Yes* No c. To give your spouse the right to sexual relations open to the procreation of children and to see to the fulfillment of obligations related to the Catholic religious/moral upbringing of children? Yes No* d. To make a permanent commitment until the death of your spouse? Yes No* e. To be faithful to your spouse throughout the entire marriage? Yes No* f. To give your consent freely and willingly, without being forced or pressured by anyone/any

circumstance? If there is suspicion of pressure being exerted, an explanation is needed. Yes No* (Ex. Are you pregnant? etc.) 11) Are you placing any conditions on/or do you have any serious reservations about this marriage? Yes* No 12) Would your fiancé agree with your answers to these questions if he knew them? Yes No* 13) Is there any important fact about you which you have not shared with your fiancé? (e.g., abortions, addictions, illness, trouble with the law, indebtedness, sterility, sexuality, child(ren) from a prior relationship, etc.) Yes* No 14) If groom or bride is age 17 or younger please ask: Do both parents consent to this marriage? Yes No* 15) Do you have any children from any previous relationship? Yes* No If yes, are the moral and civil responsibilities to any former spouse(s) and any child(ren) being fulfilled? Yes No* Explain here any response given above which included an asterisk (*):

I swear that all the information I have given above is the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.

Signature of Bride Date Signed

Signature of Priest or Deacon Type/Print Name

[Parish Seal] Place Signed 6 PRIOR MARRIAGE(S) OF GROOM How many times were you married in any type of ceremony? NOTE: When there is a prior marriage NO wedding ceremony can be scheduled until a) the final Decree(s) of Nullity/Dissolution is granted by the Catholic Church; or b) the certificate of death of the spouse is presented. If the priest/deacon is certain of the death of the prior spouse, a certificate of death is not required. Spouse #1: Date of Marriage Ceremony: Place of Ceremony (Name & City): Title of Officiant: How did this marriage end? Death of Spouse Divorce Declaration of Nullity

Spouse #2: Date of Marriage Ceremony: Place of Ceremony (Name & City): Title of Officiant: How did this marriage end? Death of Spouse Divorce Declaration of Nullity Attach a copy of the death certificate, civil divorce/, the decree of nullity, or the decree of dissolution. PRIOR MARRIAGE(S) of BRIDE How many times were you married in any type of ceremony? NOTE: When there is a prior marriage NO wedding ceremony can be scheduled until a) the final Decree(s) of Nullity/Dissolution is granted by the Catholic Church; or b) the certificate of death of the spouse is presented. If the priest/deacon is certain of the death of the prior spouse, a certificate of death is not required. Spouse #1: Date of Marriage Ceremony: Place of Ceremony (Name & City): Title of Officiant: How did this marriage end? Death of Spouse Divorce Declaration of Nullity

Spouse #2: Date of Marriage Ceremony: Place of Ceremony (Name & City): Title of Officiant: How did this marriage end? Death of Spouse Divorce Declaration of Nullity Attach a copy of the death certificate, civil divorce/annulment, the decree of nullity, or the decree of dissolution. DECLARATION FOR MIXED AND DISPARITY OF CULT Note: If one of the parties is not Catholic, this section must be completed. CATHOLIC PARTY: I hereby state that I am prepared to remove dangers of falling away from the Catholic faith. I sincerely promise to do all in my power to have all the children baptized and brought up in the Catholic Church.

Signature of the Catholic Party NON-CATHOLIC PARTY: I am clearly aware of the obligation of my Catholic spouse to preserve and profess his/her faith and to do all that is possible to baptize and to educate the children of our marriage in the Catholic Church.

Signature of Non-Catholic Party

7 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

RITE: If the groom and/or bride are Eastern Catholic or Eastern Orthodox, only a priest may assist at the wedding, not a deacon. If you have any questions, please call the Chancery.

CANONICAL FORM: Catholics are to be married before a properly delegated Catholic priest or deacon and two witness, in a church. Dispensations to marry outside the church when only one is Catholic may be granted. See insert.

NUPTIAL MASS: A marriage between two Catholics is usually celebrated during Mass, though Mass is not strictly required. A marriage between a Catholic and a baptized Christian is usually celebrated outside of Mass. A marriage between a Catholic and a non-baptized person may never be celebrated during Mass.

DISPENSATION/PERMISSION/DELEGATION: Obtain any permission/dispensation from the Catholic bishop in whose diocese the Catholic groom/bride lives, regardless of where the marriage ceremony will occur. Please keep the record in the file. • If a Catholic is marrying a non-baptized person, obtain a dispensation from Disparity of Cult. • If a Catholic is marrying a (validly) baptized non-Catholic, obtain permission for a Mixed Marriage. (Priests who have faculties from the Bishop of Memphis can give this permission.) • If a Catholic will be married by a non-Catholic officiant, obtain a dispensation from canonical form. (This is possible only when one of the parties is not Catholic.) • If officiating at a marriage of two Catholics and neither is your parishioner, obtain permission from the Catholic's proper pastor. • If officiating at a marriage outside your assigned parish, obtain delegation from that pastor or a local ordinary. • See the Petition for Dispensations Permissions (insert) for a complete list of required dispensations and permissions.

INTERFAITH/ECUMENICAL WEDDINGS: It is forbidden for the Catholic minister in a religious celebration of marriage and the non-Catholic minister, each performing his own rite, to ask together for the consent of the parties.

MARRIAGE FILE: The marriage file is stored in the parish where the marriage with canonical form occurred. If the marriage takes place at a university chapel, hospital, etc., the marriage file is stored at the parish in whose territory the place is located. When the marriage ceremony occurred with a dispensation for lack of canonical form, the marriage file is stored in the parish where the prenuptial investigation and the request for dispensation from canonical form occurred.

WEDDINGS OUTSIDE OF THE DIOCESE: If the marriage ceremony is to occur outside the Diocese, the marriage file is to be sent to the Chancery with the Testimonial Letters or Nihil Obstat form attached. (See Chancellor’s website.) Keep a copy.

Revised 2/26/20

8 PETITION FOR DISPENSATIONS/PERMISSIONS Most Reverend Bishop: I request the dispensations/permissions indicated below for the marriage of:

Groom: Bride:

DISPENSATION FROM THE IMPEDIMENT OF: Disparity of Cult [Not baptized] (c. 1086) Affinity (c. 1092) Abduction (c. 1089) Disparity of Cult ad cautelam (c. 1086) Public Propriety (c. 1093) Consanguinity (the fourth degree in the Legal relationship arising from adoption (c. 1094) collateral line, i.e. first cousins c. 1091) Crime (c. 1090) THE REASON(S) FOR THIS REQUEST: Removal of serious scandal For the Spiritual well being of the Catholic Party Mutual help in advanced age Convalidation of an invalid marriage Danger of invalid marriage Promise to embrace the Catholic religion (for baptized) Legitimation of children Well-founded hope of the conversion of the unbaptized

PERMISSION FOR A MARRIAGE WITH: Pre-Nuptial Agreement (copy attached)

DISPENSATION FROM CANONICAL FORM Place of Wedding (Name & Location): Name & Title of Officiant: Name of any Catholic Priest or Deacon to attend: Telephone (of Catholic Priest or Deacon to attend): ( ) THE REASON(S) FOR THIS REQUEST: To achieve family harmony and avoid alienation Special friendship with the officiant Close family connection with the particular Church To obtain parental agreement to the marriage Other:

Signature of Pastor/Parochial Vicar Parish

Print Name of Pastor/Parochial Vicar Date Please send this petition to the Office of the Chancellor, along with the Prenuptial Investigation form and all required documents, at least one month before the wedding.

Rescript

I, hereby, grant the requested dispensations/permissions. Date: Prot. No.: Bishop of Memphis/Vicar/Delegate

Revised February 2020 DIOCESE OF MEMPHIS IN TENNESSEE

Witness Affidavit

and Groom (print full name) Bride (print full name)

(Parish of Marriage Preparation and Address)

Affidavit of Witness for Bride or Groom

In keeping with Church law and policies for marriage, the Diocese of Memphis requires two witnesses for each candidate. Each witness must be interviewed individually and fill out a separate form. 1. To establish freedom to marry. 2. To assist in proving baptism, when certificate is unavailable.

The testimony of parents is always preferred and should be neglected for grave reasons only.

1. Do you solemnly swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth in answering the following questions? 2. Name: Address: 3. What is your relationships to the person whose name appears above? 4. How long have you known this person? How well? 5. Has the person mentioned above ever gone through any type of marriage ceremony? If so, how many times? With whom? Does this marriage still exist? 6. Is the person mentioned above related to the other individual to this intended marriage? If so, in what way? 7. To your knowledge, is the person mentioned above entering this marriage freely? To your knowledge, does the person mentioned above intend to enter a life-long union? To your knowledge, does the person mentioned above intend to be faithful for life to the partner in this marriage? If “no” to any part of question 7, explain

8. Do you know of any reason why this person should not get married? If yes, “explain TO ESTABLISH BAPTISM OR NON-BAPTISM:

9. Was the person mentioned above ever baptized? In what religion? When? In what church and address?

By whom? Who were the sponsors? Were you present? If not, how do you know of the Baptism?

What religion does this person practice at present? 10. If the person above was not baptized, how do you know of the non-baptism?

Signature – Witness

Signature – Interviewing Priest/Deacon PARISH SEAL Date Place

Revised February 2020 DIOCESE OF MEMPHIS IN TENNESSEE Chancery 5825 Shelby Oaks Drive Memphis, TN 38134 Tel.: (901) 373-1200 Fax: (901) 373-1268 [email protected]

Explanation of Testimonial Letters

It frequently happens that marriages of our parishioners are celebrated in other in the United States or in other countries.

When one of the parties to a marriage resides in this Diocese, his/her parish priest has the responsibility to assist in establishing freedom to marry, even when the wedding is to take place in another diocese. 1066 states: “Before a marriage is celebrated, it must be evident that nothing stands in the way of its valid and licit celebration.” Canon 1070 adds: If someone other than the pastor who is to assist at the marriage has conducted the investigations, the person is to notify the pastor about the results as soon as possible through an authentic document.”

This responsibility is usually fulfilled by facilitating the necessary course of pre-marriage instructions and by forwarding to the parish where the wedding is to take place all sacramental documents, letters of freedom, prenuptial investigation form, and any other pertinent documents establishing the readiness and freedom of the party to marry. When the place of the wedding is another parish located within the Diocese of Memphis, those materials can be sent directly by you to the parish. However, when the parish of the wedding is located in another diocese, these documents must be accompanied by TESTIMONIAL LETTERS from the Diocese of Memphis and a NIHIL OBSTAT from the diocese of the place of the wedding. Problems can be encountered by our people if they arrive for the wedding in another place and find these TESTIMONIAL LETTERS and NIHIL OBSTAT have not been issued.

Priests, deacons and other parish ministers who are approached by a parishioner for help in preparing for a marriage in another diocese are asked to use the form: “Testimonial Letters.” The form is available in English and Spanish. If the marriage is to take place in a country where Spanish is the primary language, please use the Spanish version. For dioceses in the United States or other countries, please use the English version. Once completed, the form, along with the documents, is to be sent to the Office of the Chancellor of the Diocese of Memphis. We will issue the TESTIMONIAL LETTERS and forward the materials to the diocese where the wedding is scheduled to take place. The receiving diocese will then issue the NIHIL OBSTAT and forward them to the parish of the wedding.

Occasionally, when there is doubt about international mail, the parties may want to hand carry a copy of the documents with them. If this is the case, please inform the Chancellor's Office when you send in the request. The testimonial letters will be issued, the originals forwarded, and an authenticated copy will be issued for the parties to deliver to the parish of the wedding.

If you have any questions, please consult the Chancellor's Office. DIOCESE OF MEMPHIS IN TENNESSEE Chancery TIME DEADLINE for TESTIMONIAL LETTERS 5825 Shelby Oaks Drive All documents must be received by this Office no later Memphis, TN 38134 than four (4) weeks prior to the wedding. Tel.: (901) 373-1200 Fax: (901) 373-1268 [email protected] TESTIMONIAL LETTERS Groom Bride Name: Name: Address: Address:

Telephone: Telephone: Religion: Religion: Parish: Parish:

Place of Marriage: Priest/Deacon Celebrant:

Church Name

City Phone

Diocese Date of Marriage

Documents Submitted 1. Prenuptial Investigation: Groom Bride 2. Testimony of Witnesses Concerning Freedom: Groom Bride 3. Certificate/Proof of Baptism: Groom Bride 4. Granted Dispensation/Permissions: Groom Bride 5. Other Documents:

Concerning Banns: Announced, with no objection To be announced Dispensed

I know of nothing that stands in the way of the valid and licit celebration of the proposed marriage (c. 1066). Permission, insofar as it is required, is hereby given for this marriage to take place outside of the parish (c. 1115). Therefore, I respectfully request the issuance of the Testimonial Letters / Nihil Obstat (c. 1070) for the marriage.

Signature of Priest or Deacon Parish City Telephone

Visum est: As Chancellor of the Diocese of Memphis, I hereby grant the Testimonial Letters.

By: Date:

Nihil obstat: We have no objection to the above-mentioned marriage taking place in this (Arch)diocese.

By: Date:

Revised September 2019