Daily Ancestorpublications de bans
Publications de bans are the public announcements of an intended marriage, read in church or posted at the town hall so objections could be raised.
The purpose of the banns was to let anyone reveal an impediment, such as close kinship. Church law from the Councils of the Lateran (1215) and Trent (1563) required them, and before 1983 Catholic banns were read on three Sundays or holy days in the parishes of both parties.
French civil law also requires banns, posted at the mairie before the wedding. Registers of civil banns survive for some towns and can show a marriage planned elsewhere.
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Daily Ancestor. "publications de bans." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/french/publications-de-bans. Last checked 2026-10-28.