[miracle2k]

It's actually somewhat similar in Germany. You need a Ehefähigkeitszeugnis, essentially that document proving that you are not married yet. You would have needed to get this from the US.

Because most countries don't have that sort of document (including the US), you then instead need to apply to your local Oberlandesgericht (Higher Regional Court) for an exemption.

All the way, any foreign government documents need to be notorized by the German embassy in that country.

[folmar]

Virtually all common law countries provide this easily, and civil law countries provide a slightly different worded document of similar usage, i.e. a certificate of being eligible to marry under your country law. In most cases they are treated as equal once you have them, although the procedures and conditions vary.

[AmericanChopper]

> Because most countries don't have that sort of document (including the US)

They don’t? I thought this was a pretty standard sort of document to get…

[hobs]

It is, the GP is wrong, its called a Statement Of No Marriage, many states can provide this.

[flypaca]

Yes, it is. Usually, a certificate that says, "No record of marriage of this person in this county". Though, there is still a step to apostille and translate it to German for German cities to use it.

[omginternets]

How does one prove one isn’t married? Is it a sworn statement, or is there something else?

[bojan]

At both my European countries you can request an official document confirming your unmarried status at the city hall, and more recently, online.

Obviously, all the bureaucracies that require such a document also have a mechanism to issue it.