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You're about to get married (congratulations!) or maybe it's your cousin Kevin who's taking the plunge, and then... tragedy! Your 16-year-old sister absolutely wants to be a witness. The problem is: is it allowed to appoint a minor as a wedding witness in France? Is it legal, or is it reserved for adults, with an ID card and all the trimmings?
Take a deep breath, we'll explain everything. Spoiler alert: no, you don't have to be an adult to be a wedding witness. But as is often the case, there are a few subtleties to be aware of. And since you like to do things properly (even if it means matching the wedding dress to the decor, we know you), we're going to explain everything to you with humor and clarity.
Before knowing whether a minor can be a witness, we still need to understand who can be one in general. And you'll see, it's not very complicated. The witness doesn't need to be an extremely close relative, or even an accomplished adult with a permanent contract, a loan, two children, and a wedding dress . They simply need to meet a few simple conditions.
Yes, you don't need to be a lawyer or a Sudoku champion to understand the following conditions:
Have a legal identity : a valid ID document is sufficient.
Be present on the wedding day (it seems logical, but it’s better to be specific).
To be freely chosen by the future bride and groom . No witness imposed, not even by mom.
Have at least 2 witnesses in total (1 per groom), and a maximum of 4 (2 per groom).
So basically, if you're alive, identified, of legal age or not, and the bride and groom like you, that's already not bad.
So here's the point you're interested in: there is no minimum age requirement set by law to be a witness at a wedding . You read that right. It's not written in the Civil Code that you have to be 18 years old to sign the register.
In theory, a minor can therefore be a witness at a wedding. But, as in all good French administrative stories, there is a “but”…
Even though legally nothing prevents a minor from being a witness, the town hall can sometimes put the brakes on if the witness in question is very young. Like 5 years old, in a princess dress like a winter wedding dress , with her hair in pigtails. And frankly, we can understand.
Because beyond the law, there is also common sense and the ability to understand what we are signing . A witness is there to attest to the consent of the spouses . It is not just an honorary title, even if it always looks good on Instagram.
As a result, in practice, many town halls prefer that the witness be at least 13 or 14 years old , so that they understand a little what is happening. Some even ask for written parental consent for minors, as a precaution.
So we're in a bit of a grey area, but not insurmountable: everything will depend on the child, the town hall, and the atmosphere of the wedding. If your 12-year-old cousin is more mature than you at 30, why not.
You might be wondering why we would choose someone who is not yet an adult as a witness, when we could have our best friend, our favorite cousin or even the neighbor's dog (well, not him, he wouldn't go with the satin wedding dress ).
But sometimes it's a strong emotional choice . It could be a very close brother or sister, a child of the couple, or even a childhood friend that we absolutely want to include in this special moment.
Naming a minor as a witness is often a wonderful demonstration of love and trust. And it can leave an unforgettable memory in their life: “Remember, I was 15 and I was a witness at my sister’s wedding!”
It is also a symbolic way of involving him in the ceremony, especially if we want to avoid confining him to the role of “cushion bearer”.
Of course, not everyone approves of this choice. Some will say that it's not "serious," that this role should go to someone older, with a solid sense of responsibility.
But the truth is, it's your wedding, your rules (within the law) . So if you want your 16-year-old sister to be a witness, go for it. On one condition: that the town hall says yes.
Come on, a quick detour through French law. We promise we won't use any jargon, just enough to shine at your coffee break.
In the Civil Code, Articles 63 to 75 deal with civil marriage. And guess what? There is no minimum age to be a witness. Nada. Zero. Nothing.
Article 75 of the Civil Code governs the marriage ceremony. It states in particular that witnesses must be adults or emancipated , but this clarification does not appear in the current version of the text .
Some ancient sources mentioned this requirement, but it is no longer enforced today. What matters is that the person can understand their role and sign the register .
Basically, the law leaves room for maneuver, and it's often the civil registrars who decide, on a case-by-case basis. Some accept minor witnesses without any problem. Others ask the parents' opinion. And some categorically refuse, especially if the child is very young. A bit like choosing a plus-size wedding dress , it all depends on each person's criteria and specific situations.
You're probably thinking, "Okay, no worries about age, but do you need special papers for a minor?" Spoiler: not really.
As with any witness, you must provide a copy of an identity document . An identity card, passport, even one that has expired less than 5 years ago, is acceptable.
If the witness is a minor and doesn't yet have an ID card (which can happen), you'll have to apply for one. But hey, between us, from the age of 12-13, many teenagers already have one.
Some town halls may require written permission from the minor's parents , especially if the minor is under 16. This is not a legal requirement, but rather an administrative precautionary measure.
So don't hesitate to ask the town hall what exactly they expect. It's better to plan ahead than to rush to the town hall at 9 a.m. in a panic on the big day.
This is where things get a little tricky. In theory, the city hall can't refuse a minor witness if you comply with the law . But in practice, they can be overzealous.
The main reason for refusing a minor witness is that they wouldn't understand what they're signing. This is rare, but if the town hall feels the child is too young or unable to fulfill their role, they can refuse, just as one might hesitate to choose a backless wedding dress if they doubt its suitability.
In this case, there is no need to make a scene. It is better to choose another person as an official witness , and let the child have another symbolic role (reader of the text, ring bearer, etc.).
If your favorite witness is 11 years old and the town hall isn't keen, consider appointing an "official" witness to handle the paperwork, and giving the child an equally valuable role in the ceremony. Everyone's happy, and you avoid an administrative tug-of-war.
You absolutely want your 10-year-old brother to participate, but the town hall doesn't want him as an official witness? Don't panic, there are plenty of great alternatives.
Wearing wedding rings (classic but still cute)
Read a short speech during the ceremony
Bring pens for signing
Give a bouquet or a symbolic gift
Open the procession with the bride and groom
In short, we can give them a role almost as important as that of witness, without the administrative headache ( more details here ).
So, do you have to be an adult to be a wedding witness in France? The answer is clear: no, it's not an obligation . But you still have to:
Have an ID document
Understanding what we are signing
Be accepted by the town hall
And if not, there are a thousand other ways to honor the people you love on your wedding day.
The law does not require the age of 18 to be a witness
The final decision often rests with the town hall
A minor can absolutely be a witness if he or she is old enough to understand.
Otherwise, it can have a symbolic role that will also please
And most importantly: it's your wedding, your story, your witnesses . Age is just a number. The most important thing is love (and a little bit of the buffet too).