Starting January 1, 2025, Belarusian citizens wishing to register their marriage abroad will no longer need to obtain marriage certificates from civil registry offices. This significant change aims to simplify and expedite the marriage registration process for those planning to marry internationally.
According to Nadezhda Maximova, a consultant at the notary office of the Slonim district, "Now, it is not a government body confirming whether the citizen is or was married, but the document is drawn up according to the words of the applicant." This means individuals will need to provide notarized statements declaring their marital status instead of relying on government-issued documents.
The new law allows the applicant to assert their marital status. A notarized statement will serve as the replacement for the traditional marriage certificate. The responsibility for accuracy lies with the individual providing the information. They will declare whether they are currently married, have been married, and the circumstances surrounding prior marriages, if applicable.
The statement must specify key details, including whether the applicant is married or has ever been married, and must include information about any previous marriages, such as the grounds and dates for the dissolution of those marriages. For verification of prior relationships, the applicant can present documents such as divorce certificates or death certificates of former spouses.
With this new process, personal presence at the notary office will be required to testify the signing of the document. Notably, signatures provided by proxies will not be accepted. This approach shifts the burden of proof from the government to the individual, as notaries will only validate the authenticity of the signatures, not the contents of the declarations.
Once the notarized statement is completed, applicants must obtain an apostille from the Ministry of Justice. This replaces the previous requirement for obtaining apostilles on documents from civil registry offices, which were managed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The reform reflects Belarus's efforts to streamline civil processes and facilitate the lives of its citizens marrying abroad. The expectations are for these changes to reduce the bureaucratic burden involved and provide individuals with greater flexibility when dealing with international marriage requirements.
Overall, the significance of the law lies not only in making the marriage process more accessible but also empowering individuals to take responsibility for reporting their histories accurately. These reforms signify Belarus's movement toward modernizing existing bureaucratic systems to align with contemporary lifestyles and global norms.
With marriage registration becoming less cumbersome, citizens may find themselves with improved opportunities to formalize their relationships across borders, promoting social bonds and family structures internationally.
The evolution of marriage documentation can also serve as a template for potential reforms within other bureaucratic systems, urging more nations to adopt similar streamlined processes for their citizens.
Therefore, Belarus' innovative approach could herald broader changes, setting precedents for how legal documents are handled globally, presenting opportunities for cross-border relationships to flourish without unnecessary hindrances.