Living in Italy - Private Life

Birth

Upon the birth of a child, the health authority issues a birth certificate to the parents, who must register the birth of their child within 10 days. The declaration must be taken to the municipio (town hall) of the Municipality in which the child was born or to the parent’s Municipality of residence.

Marriage

A visit must be paid to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the municipality of residence of one of the future spouses and the intention to marry declared The registrar, together with the future spouses and in the presence of two witnesses, draws up in legal form the document in which the banns are to be published, the summary of which must remain on display for eight consecutive days at the town halls of residence of the prospective spouses. After this period, a certificate attesting to the publication of the banns is issued. The parties concerned then have six months in which to marry; otherwise, the procedure lapses and must be repeated. The marriage ceremony may be performed by the mayor or one of his delegates, or by a minister of the Roman Catholic Church. Through the Concordat between the Italian State and the Catholic Church, the latter performs the functions of the State in marrying the two persons.

Death

If a death occurs in a hospital or private dwelling, a physician of the competent ASL draws up a document certifying the death, which the spouse or heir must take to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in order for a death certificate to be made out and the deed authorizing the burial to be obtained. If, on the other hand, a death occurs as a result of a road accident or in ‘violent’ circumstances, a death certificate issued by a magistrate and the burial permit from the Public Prosecutor must be produced in addition to the document from the physician. Afterwards, the death certificate is produced in legal form.

Useful references: the relevant legislation is Presidential Decree No 396 of 3 November 2000, ‘Regulation on the revision and simplification of the civil register system, under Article 2(12) of Law No 127 of 15 May 1997’

Text last edited on: 02/2007

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2006
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