How to get married in court: step by step procedure in India

We shall take you through the process on how to get married in a court in India, step involved, and everything you must know about the marriage registration process. We'll be discussing how one can apply for marriage registration online and then the process followed for marriage registration in Delhi as well as tell you how to find marriage registration near me.

What is Court Marriage?

A court marriage is a legal process where a marriage is registered at the local court under the Special Marriage Act of 1954 as well the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 depending upon the religion of the couple. Court marriages are also legally valid in any part of this country.

The procedure for a court marriage is very simple and easy to follow and ensures that the individuals have, on their free will, come to the conclusion to get married. Court marriages are especially common in inter-religion marriages or when the couple wants a very simple, hassle-free ceremony.

Step-by-Step Procedure for Court Marriage in India

Here is how you can be married in court in India.

1. Eligibility to Court Marriage

Before the process of registration of the marriage, parties going for the marriage must satisfy the requirements as follows:

• Age: The bride must be over 18 years, and the groom over 21 years.
• He must be of sound mind and having reasoning ability to make a proper decision, which he will be able to give his consent to marry each other.
• Marital Status: The parties concerned at the time of marriage shall not be married to anyone else.
• Relationship: The two parties concerned shall not be closely related by blood, that is, they shall not come within the prohibited degrees of relationship.

These conditions must be satisfied for the court marriage to be valid.

2. Registration of Marriage Application

After fulfilling all the criteria of eligibility, one should apply for marriage registration. Now, an application for marriage registration can be done either personally at the local court or in most cases by online application for marriage registration.

• Visit the Court: You have to visit the court in your region or the marriage registration office that is in your area. You can go to the marriage registration center if you are in Delhi or to the marriage registration Delhi office.
• Marriage Registration Apply Online: In most of the states of India, one can apply online for marriage registration from the respective state government portals. Look for the marriage registration section, fill your details, and upload the documents.

3. Documents Required for Marriage Registration

For the registration of marriage, the following are some of the required documents:

• Application form: You need to fill up the application form for registering marriage, which is available both online and offline.
• Age proof: Birth certificate or leaving certificate of the school as age proof of both parties.
• Passport size photos of both the persons.
• Address proof: Utility bills, ration cards, or Aadhaar cards of the party.
• Affidavit: Marriage affidavit signed by both parties stating free consent and fulfilling all conditions required for marriage.
• Witnesses: At the time of marriage registration, there should be at least two witnesses (close friends or family) with identification and whose signatures would be taken.
• Divorce decree or spouse's death certificate, if any: In case any party was already married earlier, either a divorce decree or spouse's death certificate has to be presented.

Please ensure that all these are ready to not allow any registration to be delayed.

4. Appearance before Marriage Officer

After the required documents are in place, both the bride and groom have to appear before the marriage officer or the registrar of marriages. It is usually done at the local court or marriage registration office. In this appearance, two witnesses must be present.

The marriage officer checks on the documents, then asks both parties a few questions to establish that they have indeed married freely and meet all the eligibility criteria.

5. Marriage Ceremony

A very simple type of court marriage is generally attended by the marriage officer and witnesses. However, in other states, the court marriage can be very formal where both the bride and groom exchange their vows. Sometimes, even the registration process through court marriage is like an administrative procedure.

The marriage officer will complete all the formalities, and after checking all the documents and the application, the marriage will be registered under the Special Marriage Act or the Hindu Marriage Act, depending upon the religion of the couple.

6. Marriage Certificate

After the marriage is registered, the couple receives a marriage certificate. This serves as legal proof of marriage. The certificate is useful for changing your surname, visa applications, and other legal procedures.

The marriage certificate is available usually within a few days of the registration. The time period depends upon the location.

Read More

Underage Marriage in India: A Legal and Social Analysis

Advantages of Court Marriage in India

• Legal Implication: Such marriages are also given legal recognition through the courts.
• Simple: There is no such complexity of lengthy rituals and ceremonies.
• No Religiosity Restriction: These are best suited to couples from different religions or, for that matter, those interested in a non-religious protocol.
• Participatory Privacy: The venue not being a part of a conventional wedding ceremony site, privacy can be well maintained with a court marriage in Delhi.

Delhi being the capital and largest city also gives you this facility to collect your marriage registration by visiting their various office branches. For ease, this is also very speedily done at Delhi, considering that you might also apply through internet facility. Even you can simply download the requisite forms from their official website at Delhi government end and proceed for registration.

Delhi has various offices where marriage registration in different districts, and one procedure is being followed in every office. No matter you seek to get marry registration near me or wish to get propose in Delhi, the procedure turns easy.

Some Tips for Hassle-Free Marriage Registration Process:

• Fill all document as required from the office as follows: an address proof age proof and photograph.
• Timely Application: Apply well in advance of your wedding date, as the process may take a few days to complete.
• Legal Advice: If you’re unsure about the procedure or the documents required, it’s always a good idea to consult a lawyer for guidance. A drafting lawyer can assist with affidavit preparation and any other legal documents.

A marriage court is an easy and legitimate method to make a marriage legally recognized in India. The registration of marriage assures that law will give both parties rights so that their union will be protected under the eye of the law. It is straightforward, either through an online marriage registration process or going to a marriage registration near me.