Marriage Certificate

Marriage Certificate – Marriage Certificate – Marriage Registration Procedure
The marriage certificate is an official declaration that states that two people are married. In India, Marriages can be registered either under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 or under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. For both types of marriages, a marriage certificate is legitimate proof that a couple is married. In 2006, the Supreme Court made it mandatory to register the marriage for safeguarding women’s rights. Hence, obtaining a marriage certificate after marriage can have various benefits.

Note: To obtain a marriage certificate, the groom must be over 21 years of age, and the bride must be over 18 years of age.

Reasons to Obtain Marriage Certificate
The marriage certificate is an essential document while applying for a passport or opening a bank account with a new surname post-wedding. Also, in the case of foreign travel or visa processing, many embassies request a copy of the marriage certificate. Hence, a marriage certificate is many obligatory couples to move abroad after the wedding.

As stated in Section 8 of the Act, the state government may make rules for the registration of Hindu marriages that the parties to any of such marriages may have particulars relating to their marriages entered in such a manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed in the Hindu Marriage Register. This registration is for the purpose of facilitating the proof of Hindu marriages. All rules made in this section may be laid before the state legislature. The Hindu Marriage Register should be open for inspection at all reasonable times and should be admissible as evidence of the statements contained therein.

Documents required for the Performance & Registration of court Marriage

1. Passport Size Photographs – four each of Marrying Persons.
2. Residential Proof (Voter Card / Passport / Ration Car / Driving License / Bank Passbook / Lease Deed / Rent Deed) of Marrying Persons.
3. Date of Birth Proof (Municipal Corporation Certificate, X th or XII th Examination Certificate, Passport, PAN Card) of Marrying Persons.
4. If any party is divorcee Certified copy of Decree of Divorce granted by the Court.
5. If any party is widow / widower Death Certificate of the dead spouse.
6. If any party is a Foreign Citizen or holding a foreign Passport or is having foreign residential address – Certificate of Present Marital Status of the party / No Impediment Certificate / NOC from concerned Embassy and Valid VISA.
7. Two Witnesses (Both should be major).