What are witnesses for?

MelindaM83

Hi everyone,

I finally got the go ahead from the priest and wedding coordinators to set up an appoinment to schedule our date...so exciting! They told us though we both need to bring 2 witnesses though to our meeting. Does anyone know what the witnesses are for? I have no problem getting some witnesses for myself, but my fiance is relatively new to the area and most his family and friends don't live here. Would it be okay if my brother in laws were his witnesses?

mica178

Do they mean the witnesses who will sign your marriage license?  Some priests require that witnesses be Catholic, so the priest might want to ascertain their status.  I'd call your parish secretary to clarify.

catarntina

It's probably your witness for the Freedom to Marry form.  Some diocese requires that you have a witness testify that you are entering in the marriage willingly and freely.

My church gave us a form, called a Freedom to Marry form, that needed to be signed by one of our parents, in the presence of a Catholic priest, and also by the priest himself, and stamped with the Church's seal.

Our form asked us if we had ever been married before, do we want kids, etc.

I'd bet this is what you need the witnesses for.  Our witnesses had to be someone who have known us a very long time, and they preferred a parent.  Your BIL's might work if they've know him a while.  I'd just call and check though.  We were able to mail our forms to our families since they live out of state.

mica178

Oh, I remember those forms!  We both had our fathers fill out the forms.  They mailed them in since H's family lives out of state and my father works and couldn't come in when we were doing the paperwork.  It wasn't a problem.

MelindaM83

Thanks ladies...I'll definitely call and make sure what our church's policy is.

Lisa50

I have no idea what the witnesses might be for.  I married in the Catholic Church and no one asked about witnesses.  That seems strange to me.  What was the response when you asked the priest and coordinators for an explanation?

MelindaM83

I called the coordinator who basically told me that it just needed to be someone that knew us for a substanial period of time...so it couldnt be someone who has only known us 6 months. They didnt say anything about sending the form to his parents or family out of state, and said it would be okay if my brother in law would be his witness. I guess we'll see how everything goes today. Hoping it goes smoothly.

2Bwed2011

We had to do this also.  But our priest just gave us each a form and we each had to get two people who have known us for a long time to sign it and return it to the church.  It basically just stated that yes, I've known this person, he/she has never been married; entering into this marriage willingly, etc.  They did not make us bring those people with us in person though.  I had both of my parents do it and they just mailed the form back to the church.