COURT MARRIAGE

As per Article 21 of the Constitution of India, under “Right to Life”, every citizen has the right to marry their partner irrespective of caste, sex or religion. Post tying the knot every couple wants to be called as husband and wife and there arises a need for registration of marriage to obtain social and legal status. To suffice this needs marriage shall be registered under the applicable Act.

A marriage solemnized between male and female in court in front of the Marriage Officer  and in the presence of 3 (three) witnesses . No Customary celebration or any other rituals are required to fulfill the formalities of Court Marriage. Court Marriage is in accordance with the Special Marriage Act, 1954. Court marriage is the most feasible way of solemnizing marriage irrespective of the nationalities.

PRE-REQUISITES OF MARRIAGE

Few conditions need to be fulfilled before proceeding with Court Marriage. Rules are given under Section 4 of the Special Marriage Act as well. Couple needs to meet the essential conditions prescribed in the Act before mutually signing the marriage contract. The conditions are as follows:
 

  1. No Prior Marriage- Either Partner shall not be married prior to this unless the previous spouse is not living or divorce has been obtained from the previous spouse.
  2. Valid Consent- Couple shall sign the contract as per their free will, i.e. they should not be incompetent of giving valid consent due to unsound mind or any other factor.
  3. Age- Couple must be eligible to conduct court marriage. Marriage age as prescribed by applicable Acts for a boy and girl is 21 yrs.
  4. Prohibited degrees of Relationship- Parties should not be connected to each other through any relationship mentioned in Schedule 1 of the Special Marriage Act.

REQUISITE DOCUMENTS FOR COURT MARRIAGE

Certain documents are required for completing the legal marriage process in the court without which marriage cannot be registered in India. Both bride and groom are required to submit few documents to proceed registration of marriage:
 

  1. Marriage application signed by both parties
  2. Verified proof of fees paid for the application
  3. Residential and address proof
  4. Affidavit from both mentioning date of birth, marital status, parties are not related to each other within prohibited degrees of relationship, 2 passport size photographs

For Witness:

  1. Passport size photo
  2. PAN Card
  3. Identity Proof

PROCEDURE FOR REGISTRATION

Step 1: Notice of Intended Marriage

The first and foremost step of registering marriage is acquiring notice regarding intention of registering marriage. Any one party has to send a written notice mandatorily as per section 5 of Special Marriage Act to the marriage registrar showing the intention of the parties to marry each other 30 days prior to marriage

Step 2: Publishing of Notice

The notice which is sent to the marriage registrar shall be published by the officer by affixing it to a place in his office which is clearly visible while retaining the original copy in his notice book.

Step 3: Objection to Marriage Section 7 of the Special Marriage Act mentions that any person who has an objection to the marriage so intended to be registered can raise objection within 30 days from the date of publication of the notice. If the marriage registrar discovers that the objection raised is correct, then he/she will cease the process of registration. But in case the objection is unjustified, then he/she will proceed with the registration procedure.

Step 4: Declaration by Parties and Witnesses Before the Court Marriage is finalized, the form has to be signed by the parties along with three witnesses declaring that the parties are marrying each other with free consent. The declaration form has to be signed in the presence of the marriage registrar.

Step 5: Place and Form of Solemnization Section 12 of the Special Marriage Act mentions that the registration of Court Marriage shall take place at the office of the registrar or any other place at a reasonable distance.

Step 6: Procedure for Marriage Certificate Once the solemnization of the marriage takes place according to the laws of Court Marriage, the registrar enters the details of the marriage, in the marriage certificate according to the Schedule IV of the Special Marriage Act.

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FAQs On Marriage Under Special Marriage Act

In court marriage 2 persons who are eligible to marry each other marries in front of the wedding officer and 3 witnesses while satisfying the principles of Special Marriage Act, 1954.

An official certificate that states 2 persons are legally married and the same is registered under Hindu Marriage Act 1955 or Special Marriage Act 1954. The Supreme Court passed an order in 2006 to register the wedding as it is necessary to protect women’s rights.

a) No pre-existing marriage shall be there
b) Parties shall have valid consent
c) The girl should be 18 years of age and the boy should be 21 years of age.
d) Parties shall not be in prohibited degrees of relationship
e) Parties shall not be lineal dominant of another sapindas

a) Form duly signed by bride and groom
b) Proof of date of birth
c) Residential address proof
d) Receipt of fees paid
e) Passport size photographs of both parties

It shall be registered within 30 days of giving notice of intention of registering the marriage in case any objection is not raised.

Any person who has attended your wedding and has a valid PAN Card can be your witness.

When both the parties are of Hindu religion, then the marriage can be registered under Hindu Marriage Act and Special Marriage Act applies to all people in India or on all Indians living in foreign countries irrespective of religion except the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Hindu Marriage Act 1955, Muslim Marriage Act 1939 or Indian Christian Marriage Act 1872 regulates same or inter- caste marriage depending upon the religion. Special Marriage Act 1954 regulates inter-religion marriage.

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