Proven & Easy Way to Get a Marriage Certificate in India

1. PROVEN & EASY WAY TO GET A

2. INTRODUCTION A marriage certificate is legal proof of one’s marriage. It states authentic details of spouses at the time of marriage. This is why it is considered a proof of an individual who wants to change the name, apply for a spousal visa, or claim inherited property and insurance. Unlike foreign countries, obtaining a marriage certificate is not a herculean task. Simply put, the process of marriage registration is straightforward. But you need to go through proper documentation while following the correct legal procedures. Here we will guide for those who are willing to explore end-to-end details about marriage registration and the process to get its certificate in India. Let’s begin with the discovery of various types of marriage acts pervasive in India.

3. TYPES OF MARRIAGE ACT India is a land of diverse faiths where solemnising marriage is connected with thereligious beliefs. So, different laws are constituted to legally register marriage. 1. The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955: This Act is basically applicable to Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists. 2. The Special Marriage Act, 1954: It is for all Indian citizens, no matter which religion they follow. Simply put, all inter-caste and inter-religious marriages are registered under this Act. These acts validate or legalise marriage in India.

4. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA 1. Age Bride: At least 18 years old Groom: At least 21 years old 2. Mental Capacity Both would-be spouses must be mentally healthy. They must be consented to freely and voluntarily marry. 3. Marital Status Neither party would have a living spouse from a previous marriage. Both should be bachelor or bachelorette, or divorced or widowed at the time of marriage.

5. STEPS TO OBTAIN A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE This process involves multiple steps, whose information can simplify how to obtain it. 1. SOLEMNISING THE MARRIAGE For registration, the primary step is to solemnise the marriage. In India, people of all religions or customs follow certain rituals as per their tradition. So, they are allowed to solemnise accordingly through a religious ceremony. Alternatively, they can do civil marriage, which takes place before a marriage officer in court. Under the Special Marriage Act, the couple must intimate their intention to marry before the Marriage Registrar. Then, they have to complete a mandatory 30-day waiting period. This period is reserved to raise a voice or objection if there is any for either party. Once the period is over and neither party objects, the marriage is legally solemnized. However, it also requires three witnesses and the marriage officer to be there witnessing the ceremony.

6. 2. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED Now that the marriage rituals are over, the couple should collect the required documents for its registration. In other words, this registration requires the following documents in India: Application form, which can be downloaded from the official website of your district or state government’s marriage registration portal. It must have the signature of both spouses. Proof of identity and address, which can be either of them—an Aadhaar card, passport, voter ID, driver’s license, or any other government-issued ID card. Birth proof, which can be a birth certificate, school leaving certificate, or a passport Passport-size photographs of both spouses, with 4-6 copies Marriage ceremony photograph (to register under the Hindu Marriage Act) Affidavit signed by both parties, stating their declaration of marital status, date of marriage, place of marriage, nationality, and their affirmation that they do not come under the prohibited criteria of relationships.

7. 3. APPLICATION PROCESS Applicants can follow either an offline or online process to obtain a marriage certificate. Let’s explain the offline process. Offline Process Step 1. You need to discover and visit the local Sub-Division Magistrate (SDM) or Marriage Registrar’s office in your area. Step 2. Request for the marriage registration form from the office. Alternatively, you can download it from the government portal of your state. Step 3. Completely fill it and also enclose the requested documents. For reference, you can check out the list above. Step 4. As you filled it out, submit the form. Also pay the prescribed fee to the marriage registrar. Step 5. Both spouses will have to appear before the registrar with witnesses. If the registrar is willing, he or she may ask anything related to the marriage. So, both must be there to answer. Step 6. In this step, the registrar will check the originality of the documents. If every detail seems in order and proper, the certificate will be issued.

8. Online Process Step 1. Explore the website of your state. For example, people from Delhi can click this link: https://edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in. Step 2. You need to register with it at first and create a login to access it. Follow the guidelines shared on the website. Step 3. Search for the form and then upload the documents to verify your identity and age proofs with photographs, etc. Step 4. Now that you have submitted the form, pay the fee for its registration. For precise fee structure, scroll down. Step 5. Finally, you need to schedule an appointment at the marriage registrar’s office for one- on-one verification. Step 6. On the scheduled day, both parties with their witnesses must appear before the registrar. As the verification is over, the certificate will be issued within a few working days.

9. CONCLUSION Registering a marriage or obtaining its certificate can be possible online and offline in India. As two laws are pervasive in India, which are the Hindu Marriage Act and the Special Marriage Act, each registration would have different requirements. But the process will be similar, which is covered in this post.

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