Clergy Resources
The information on this page is to assist the clergy in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
The primary use is to provide current copies of forms that are used in marriage preparation.
Each complete marriage file should have completed Bride/Groom/Registration forms and appropriate Affidavits. You are asked to avoid making copies of these forms for future use as they will be changed on occasion and by downloading the forms below each time one is required, you will be assured of having the “current” version.
Affidavit Form
Affidavit Regarding The Free Status of Bride or Groom
According to the NCCB Publication “Faithful to Each Other Forever, 1989” (page 147), two witnesses for each party should be interviewed using this Affidavit when any of the following applies:
1) Proof of baptism should be ascertained when a certificate is unavailable.
2) Proof of canonical freedom to marry must be ascertained when a party lives outside the diocese or if doubt exists in the mind of the officiant concerning freedom to marry.
3) Attitude of both sets of parents to the proposed marriage can be extremely important when the party is under 21 years of age or appears to be very immature.
4) When a party is a minor, under 18 years of age, the potential for a stable marriage needs to be investigated.
Last Updated: July 8, 2015
Bride Questionnaire
Last Updated: July 8, 2015
Groom Questionnaire
Last Updated: July 8, 2015
Marriage Registration Form
Marriage Registration and Dispensation/Permission
Last Updated: July 8, 2015
Simple Convalidation and Radical Sanations
Canon law provides two methods for the validation of invalid marriages: simple convalidation and radical sanation. Validation of a marriage, like making one's consent for the first time, is serious. The pastoral minister is to be assured that the validation is being done for the right reason.
Last Updated: July 8, 2015
Visums/Nihil Obstats Dispensation Checklist
Marriages Outside the Archdiocese of Atlanta
Visums (Latin for “to look at carefully’) and Nihil Obstats (Latin for “nothing stands in the way”) are granted by the Archdiocese of Atlanta when a Catholic subject has arranged to be married in a Catholic Church in another place. If that place is within the United States, a visum is granted. If the marriage is to be outside the United States, a nihil obstat is granted. If the ceremony will take place in another church in a place outside the Archdiocese of Atlanta with a dispensation from canonical form, all the usual paperwork must be completed and the proper permissions obtained. If any paperwork is lacking, it will slow the process in Atlanta and may result in a delay at the place of marriage.
Last Updated: July 8, 2015
