6 Things Must Know Before Registering Marriage in India

Planning to get married? Take a look at the 6 things which every couple must know before getting their marriage registered in India.

Did you know that a recent study showed that women having doubts about getting married before the wedding are significantly more likely to have an unhappy marriage many years later? The study’s author warns that if you have doubts, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you shouldn’t get married.
Marriage registration in India is a crucial factor in your wedding plan. Here is every single detail you should know while registering your marriage in India.
Though there are many formalities and rituals while getting married in India, you should not ignore the legal requirements which need to be done on time. For starters, get your marriage registered as per the Indian law is very important. If you want to get your marriage registered, here are a few key points you must know.

Here are six things every couple must know before registering their marriage in India.

Marriage registration in India – Points to remember

Get a Marriage Certificate

Why is marriage certificate mandatory in India?

Because it is an official agreement or a valid certificate which states that two persons (a man and a woman) are accepted by the society to stay together for the rest of lives and lead the family’s next generations.
The first step is to get a marriage official document. The processes vary from state to state, and at times, from city to city. Make sure to follow what your city/state says. To get the marriage certificate, you need to submit law declared ID cards, verification of marriage, and witnesses. You also need to pay a registration fee. The process will take 7 days to 3 months after marriage registration to receive your certificate.

Religion Matters

Your marriage will be enrolled under the Hindu Marriage Act or the Special Marriage Act as per your religion. If both the partners are Hindu, Sikh, Jain or Buddhist, your marriage will be enrolled under this Act.
In case one partner belongs to Muslim, Christian, Parsi, or Jewish, your marriage will be enrolled under the Special Marriage Act.
Though these Acts won’t influence your life in the long run, there are certain changes in the procedure while enrolling for the marriage certificate. This is a mandatory process if you want to undergo marriage registration in India.

Request for a name or surname change

To apply for a name or surname change, you need to file a request at the State Government Gazette. They will announce your new name/surname by declaring it through paper-cutting in local newspapers. In case you don’t wish to follow this procedure, a Joint Notarized Affidavit from an open legal officer is sufficient. This way your name will be changed in all the necessary government documents such as PAN Card, Aadhar Card, Bank records, etc.
However, many couples stick to their original names and surnames.

Offline marriage registration in India

As per the Hindu Marriage Act, both the husband the wife must apply to the sub-registrar under whose ward the marriage was consecrated, or to the register centre under whose jurisdiction either life partner has lived for like a year or half-year.
Under the Special Marriage Act, both the spouses should provide a 30-day notice to the sub-enlistment centre under whom one of the spouses has lived. A duplicate copy of this notice is put on the office board of the sub-registrar for at least 30 days.
If both the spouses are living under another sub-registrar’s jurisdiction, a copy of the notice must be sent to him as well. If there is no opposition to the marriage during these 30 days, the marriage is duly registered.

Documents to be submitted for application of marriage registration in India

Application form signed by both the spouses. The forms can be downloaded online under respective state/town/city’s official website as per the Hindu Marriage Act and the Special Marriage Act.

- Address proof of both the spouses such as PAN Card, passport, Aadhar card, or driving license.
- Date of birth proof of both spouses such as Aadhar Card, PAN Card, passport, or license.
- An Affidavit stating place and date of marriage, marital status at the time of marriage, date of birth of both the parties and their respective nationalities.
- Passport-sized photos of both the partners and one certified wedding photo as a husband-wife.
- Marriage invitation card with the name of both the spouses, place and date of the wedding.
- A certificate signed from the priest who sanctified the marriage.
- Certificate of changes like the name, religion, etc., if relevant.
- Copy of the divorce order (if either of the spouses is divorced).
- Death certificate of husband or wife, if either partner is a widow or widower.
- Two eyewitnesses at the time of the marriage registration who was present at your wedding.

Online Marriage Registration in India

In case you are worried about going to government workplaces on several occasions, online marriage registration in India is available which makes things less stressful. Begin the procedure online by enrolling the marriage online. Simply download the marriage registration form and follow the necessary procedures.

- Pick your district.
- Fill in the spouse’s details.
- Fill in the required form online.

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After this procedure, you will be given a specific date, roughly 15 days after submission as per the Hindu Marriage Act. As per the Special Marriage Act, the scheduled time can be as long as 60 days. On the official meeting day, you should provide all the original document proofs for verification as mentioned above along with two witnesses who attended your wedding.