How to Legally Register Your Marriage: Requirements and Procedures

What is Marriage registration?

Registry of marriage is formally known as the legal acknowledgment of a marriage by the government. So unlike in some countries where people are required to register their marriage for the marriage to take place legally, in India that is not the case. But to take full protection and all other benefits, it is mandatory to register the marriage. Number of registered marriages is advantageous in that in case of any complications, complexities, wrangles, succession matters and other legal matters, documentation is offered.

Why Register Your Marriage?

1. Legal Validity: A registered marriage means that the couples are legally tendered and accepted by a court as a man and wife.
2. Security for Spouses: When there is an emergency, or when a couple separates or divorces, registration of marriage guarantees rights like property rights.
3. Proof of Relationship: It is mandatory for marriage registration for getting a passport, visa or for some monetary as well as legal formalities.
4. Inheritance: A registered marriage is helpful to everyone involved to prove right of inheritance.

Marriage Registration Process in India

1. Choose the Applicable Act:
   • The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955: This refers to Hinduism, Buddhist, Jainism and Sikhism.
   • The Special Marriage Act, 1954: For those couples who are not adherent to color or religious beliefs in marriage or those who are.
2. Eligibility Criteria:
   • Both parties must be of legal age: For men it is 21 years and for women it is 18 years.
   • The marriage had to have taken place and the couple had to be cohabitant husband and wife.
   • The couple must provide identification of themselves in the form of Aadhar cards, voter ID card or passports.
3. Documents Required:
   • Proof of identity: An Aadhar card, passport, voter identity card, and so on.
   • Proof of address: Electricity bills, ration card, etc.
   • Marriage certificate if the marriage has happened earlier and has not been recorded yet.
   • Photographs: The completed application form duly filled by the couple accompanied with recent passport-size photographs of the couple and witnesses.
   • Witnesses: Particularly it is necessary to present two witnesses with ID cards during the registration.

Marriage Registration in Delhi

Delhi residents must register marriage according to the rules of Delhi Government either under Hindu Marriage Act or Special Marriage Act or as the case may be as per the religion of the parties.

The Hindu Marriage Act of 1955

To Hindu couples, marriage registration in Delhi under the Hindu Marriage Act says that it can be processed at the office of the Marriage Registrar of the locale where either of the spouses lives. Here’s the procedure:

• Each spouse must present the documents at the Marriage Registrar’s office.
• The couple must give details of their marriage date and so on.
• A marriage certificate which will be filled by the couple and two witnesses will also be signed by the couple.

Marriage Registration under the Special Marriage Act, 1954

For the interfaith marriages or the couples who do not bother to go under religious laws, then there exists the Special Marriage Act, 1954. The process includes:

• Entrusting the notice of marriage to the office of the Marriage Registrar.
• The notice will be published for 30 days to enable objection or any form of complaint to be made.
• In the absence of protests, the marriage is filed and documented which is confirmed by the marriage certificate.

Marriage Registration Apply Online

Several states, among them Delhi, have made it easier to apply online for marriage registration. Here’s how you can apply for marriage registration online in Delhi:

1. Visit the Official Portal: You can go on the Delhi Government website for marriage registration or the website of the particular portal for marriage registration.
2. Create an Account: Sign up with the website and enter your own details in order to open an account.
3. Fill the Application Form: Some of the information to fill in the marriage registration application is the names and addresses and the date of marriage.
4. Upload Documents: The user needs to scan and upload documents that will include identity proof, photographs, and marriage certificate (where applicable).
5. Payment of Fees: Make the required payment on/offline through debit cards/credit cards or any other suitable modes possible.
6. Submit Application: After all required fields have been completed and corresponding documents uploaded, the application must be sent in.
7. Acknowledgement and Appointment: After submission, you will get an acknowledgment and an appointment for a visit to the Marriage Registrar office.
8. Marriage Registration Certificate: Ideally, both parties should go to the office of the registration on the agreed times with witnesses. On confirmation, a marriage registration certificate will be issued to you.

Conclusion

To make certain that the man and the woman are legally married couple and be on the safe side of the law the couple needs to go through the marriage registration process. This goes for Delhi or any other area – the proper procedures have to be followed, plus all of the documents have to be submitted. Marriage registration by applying online enables people to register for a marriage registration in simpler and much effective way. Again, do not wait for legal problems to come – marriage registration will help you avoid many of them in the future.