Civil Ceremony fee

[liane]

We didn't go down that route, of marrying in the city halls, but that sounds far too much & another fee to pay on top of that...No it can't be right?

That's far too much. We got a judge for P5,000 at the last minute (2 days notice) and that was to perform the marriage ceremony about 7 miles from the city hall, although he got his secretary to phone an hour before the ceremony to say that he wanted another P5,000 or he wouldn't turn up....... the joys of being a white man in the Philippines. I'm sure I was told at the time that the normal price (Filipino price) for a wedding at the city hall was just a few hundred pesos.

Myrna and I were married at her first-degree cousin's house, on the outskirts of Tagum City. The ceremony [including payment of fees, &c.] was arranged through the Municipal Civil Registrar's Office in Mabini, Comval Province, and performed by a local Circuit Court Judge. Hence, no hire charge for the City Hall.

To be honest, Liane, I'm at a loss to recall how much WE actually shelled-out in total. But it most certainly came nowhere near the amount you're being asked to pay ... which, with the other respondents, seems "way over the top"!

Hi Liane - I checked my notes and definatley only paid the judge 2000php for our civil ceremony in May this year - please please see if you can find someone else - wishing you well - stand firm!

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.
I checked again on the city hall today and have the lady further explained to me about the fee. I was told that it will only take 3 days after marriage to have my authenticated marriage certificate from NSO(they said they will give me extra copies, too). I think it has some advantages for it will be faster, they said it usually take some months for the NSO copies. So I could have my passport renewed with my married name then
She got my number and might lessen the amount