Why do local municipalities in Poland take your birth certificate when you get married?

synaptic 5 | 10

24 Aug 2011 / #1

Hi,

I married my Polish born wife in Poland back in 2009. Before our court ceremony the municipality secretaries/office workers took my wife's and my birth certificates, photocopied them, gave us the copies and filed the originals. At the time I think I was in a daze, I just wanted to get it over with. Did not think much about it.

But now I am preparing to travel to Hungary to prove my Hungarian citizenship and I would like to have all my original documents with me. Aside from that I have been thinking it is strange that the municipality took my birth certificate. As far as I know this is never done in the states.

Is it possible to get my original birth certificate back from the municipality (town hall)?

And is this common practice in Poland?

mafketis 38 | 10909

24 Aug 2011 / #2

It should be the other way around, they keep the copies (verifying them with the originals which they give back to you).

OP synaptic 5 | 10

29 Oct 2012 / #3

mafketis
Yes well that would be logical. So I guess they took the wrong one. Seems odd. Do you know if the legal proceedings/steps of a marriage is posted online somewhere. I would like to prove to my wife that she is wrong in that the municipalty is supposed to keep the orginal.

Thanks.
Syn