In the Philippines, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)—formerly the National Statistics Office (NSO)—is the central repository of all civil registry documents. A marriage certificate printed on PSA security paper (SECPA) is the primary legal proof of marriage required for passport applications, visa processing, insurance claims, and other government transactions.

The process of ensuring your marriage is legally recorded involves two distinct phases: Local Registration and PSA Endorsement/Verification.

I. The Registration Process: From Local to National

A marriage certificate does not automatically appear in the PSA database. It follows a specific bureaucratic path:

Execution of the Marriage Certificate: Immediately after the ceremony, the contracting parties, the witnesses, and the solemnizing officer sign the Certificate of Marriage.
Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) Filing: The solemnizing officer (priest, judge, or minister) has a period of fifteen (15) days (or 30 days for marriages "in articulo mortis") to submit the document to the LCRO of the city or municipality where the marriage was celebrated.
Registration and Indexing: The LCRO assigns a Registry Number to the document and enters it into their local archives.
Transmission to PSA: Every month, LCROs across the country transmit copies of registered documents to the PSA for electronic encoding and storage.

II. How to Verify if Your Marriage is in the PSA Database

Before you can receive a copy on security paper, you must verify if the PSA has successfully received and encoded the record. This is typically done by requesting a Copy Issuance.

Methods of Verification:

PSA Serbilis (Online): The most convenient method. You visit the official PSA Serbilis website, enter the details of the marriage (names, date, and place), and pay the processing fee. If the record is found, it will be delivered to your address.
PSA Helpline: Another online portal offering similar delivery services.
PSA CRS Outlets (Walk-in): You may visit any PSA Civil Registry System (CRS) outlet. You will fill out a request form (Marriage Certificate - White Form) and present a valid ID.

The "Negative Result": If the PSA issues a "Negative Result" certification, it means they have no record of the marriage in their national database. This usually happens because:

The LCRO failed to transmit the copy.
The document was lost in transit.
There were clerical errors in the names or dates during encoding.

III. What to Do if There Is No Record (Late Registration)

If verification yields a negative result, you must undergo Delayed Registration of Marriage.

Obtain a Negative Certification: Secure the official document from the PSA stating that no record exists.
Visit the LCRO: Go to the Local Civil Registrar of the town where you were married.
Submit Supporting Documents: You will generally need to provide:

A certified true copy of the marriage certificate from the LCRO archives (if they have it).
Affidavits from the solemnizing officer or witnesses.
If the LCRO also has no record, you may need to present church records or other "secondary evidence" of the marriage.

Mandatory Posting: The LCRO will post a notice of the pending registration for ten (10) days to allow for any objections.
Endorsement: Once approved, the LCRO will register the document and formally endorse it to the PSA.

IV. Correcting Errors via Supplemental Reports

If a record exists but contains errors (e.g., misspelled names or wrong dates), you cannot simply "verify" it into correctness.

Clerical Errors: Under Republic Act No. 9048, typographical errors can be corrected through an administrative process at the LCRO without a court order.
Substantial Changes: Under Republic Act No. 10172, errors in the day/month of birth or sex can also be corrected administratively. However, changes to the year of marriage or the fundamental identity of the parties usually require a judicial order.

V. Essential Information for Requesting a Copy

When verifying or requesting your certificate, ensure you have the following details accurate to avoid "no record" findings:

Complete Name of Groom: First, Middle, Last.
Complete Maiden Name of Bride: First, Middle, Last.
Date of Marriage: Month, Day, Year.
Place of Marriage: City/Municipality and Province.
Registry Number: (Optional, but highly helpful if known).

Summary Table: Timeline and Fees

Action	Standard Timeline	Governing Law/Regulation
Normal Registration	15 Days from Ceremony	Family Code / Act No. 3753
PSA Encoding	2–4 Months post-marriage	PSA Internal Processing
Online Request	3–9 Working Days	Electronic Commerce Act
Late Registration	10-day Posting Period	Rule 13, A.O. No. 1, S. 1993