Formal marriage instructions to be adhered to

Instructions

1. This record shall be sent to the Patriarchate or Archdiocese with the knowledge of the Priest within a week of the liberation accompanied with the original documents regarding the absence of marital encumbrances or marriage permits.
2. It is not permissible to betroth to any person that follows another doctrine except after that person submits an application to join the Coptic Orthodox Church and to fulfill the procedures for joining, and a decision to that effect should be issued by His Grace the Bishop or the Clerical Council and stipulates a number and history in the engagement record.
3. If one of the fiancé(e)s is widowed, this is mentioned in the item shown above with the date of the death of the wife or the husband, and a certificate of death and an up-to-date certificate of marital encumbrances is attached to the death certificate. If one of the betrothed has been separated previously, the number and date of the marriage permit granted to him are indicated in the box designated for that.
4. In the case of a widow or a divorced woman, she is not permitted to complete the marriage five months after the end of the previous marriage.
5. The fiancé's age should not be less than 17 years and the fiancée less than 15 years, provided that their marriage age is not less than 18 years and 16 years, respectively.
6. The Diocese undertakes the transfer of the records of the engagement and certificates of absence of marital encumbrances in the event that the marriage contract is held in other dioceses after completing the fees prescribed by them.