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To: Priests and deacons
From: Fr. Dan Ketter, judicial vicar, Metropolitan Tribunal
Over the past few years, we have seen a marked increase in the number of couples choosing to marry outside the territory of our archdiocese. During the same time, we have witnessed steep increases in rates charged by mail delivery providers (e.g. UPS, FedEx). In both 2023 and 2024, we incurred approximately $15,000.00 in delivery fees to mail these wedding files.
With the approval of our bishops and to offset our increasing costs, we have decided to impose a modest fee for nihil obstats, that is, wedding files that must be mailed outside the territory of our archdiocese. Upon receiving a wedding file for processing, we will send an invoice to the parish that prepared the file following the fee schedule below. Parishes are free to decide whether to charge couples or simply absorb this cost as part of their ministry.
Please remember that files for weddings taking place outside our archdiocese must be received in our office no later than 60 days prior to the wedding to allow time for processing and mailing. Files received late result in stress for the couples and higher shipping costs due to the need for expedited services.
This policy will be effective on April 1, 2025, and will apply to any wedding files received in our office on or after that date.
Domestic weddings*
- Wedding file received more than 60 days prior to wedding: $25
- Wedding file received less than 60 days prior to wedding: $50
International weddings**
- Wedding file received more than 60 days prior to wedding: $100
- Wedding file received less than 60 days prior to wedding: $200
*Weddings outside the territory of the Archdiocese of Atlanta but within the United States.
** Weddings outside the territory of the United States.
