The Government of India in 2015 launched the Digital India campaign. The purpose of this campaign was to ensure that all its services are easily made available to citizens electronically through improved online infrastructure. This was done to promote the country’s digitisation and also to make people digital literates and bring about transparency in the government’s functioning.
One such facility that was extended digitally was allowing people to get their marriage certificates digitally or online.
When people get their marriages registered it acts as evidence that a marriage has been solemnized between two parties. This certificate comes in handy in several ways. For example, when you want to get your divorce, you will need a marriage certificate. It is a useful to get your marriage registered as it comes in handy while applying for many government documents after marriage, like PAN, Passport and Visa. The marriages between Hindus are governed under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, whereas the Special Marriage Act is applicable to all citizens of India irrespective of their religion.
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Who to approach for Marriage Registration?
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate under whose jurisdiction the marriage took place or where either of the spouses stayed for at least six months before the marriage is to be approached for the purpose of registration of marriage.
Requirements to get a marriage certificate:
- The groom must be 21 years of age
- The bride must be 18 years of age
- Two witnesses (Three in case of marriage through the Special Marriage Act)
- Affidavits
Documents required for Marriage Registration
The following documents required for registration of marriage:
- Application form of marriage duly signed by husband and wife.
- Documentary evidence for support of date of birth of both the parties (This document can be in the form of matriculation certificate/passport/birth certificate). This age, under both the Hindu Marriage Act and Special Marriage Act, is 21 years for males and 18 years for females.
- Residence proof of husband and wife (Ration Card, Aadhar Card, Election Voter Id, PAN Card, or bills like Electricity Bill etc.)
- Two passport size photographs of both the parties and one marriage photograph.
- Marriage invitation card, if available.
- In case the marriage was solemnized at a religious place, a certificate from the priest is required to solemnize the marriage.
- In case of marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act, a sum of Rs. 100, and Rs 150 in the case of marriage under the Special Marriage Act is required to be submitted to the cashier of the district. The receipt is to be attached along with the application form.
- The parties are required to give affirmation that they are not related and do not fall within the degree of prohibited relationship, as laid down under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 and the Special Marriage Act, 1955.
- Attested copy of divorce decree/order in case of a divorcee and death certificate of spouse in case of a widow/widower.
- In case one of the parties belong to other than Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Sikh religions, a conversion certificate from the priest who solemnized the marriage (in case of Hindu Marriage Act) is required.
- Affidavit by both the parties stating the place and date of marriage, date of birth, marital status at the time of marriage and nationality.
- Documents required for Court marriage registration process are very similar as documents required for marriage registration.
All documents’ excluding receipt has to be attested by a Gazetted Officer.
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Criteria for Marriage Registration
After the verification of the documents, a day is fixed for registration which is communicated to the parties. Both the parties, along with the Gazetted Officer who attended their marriage, needed to be present on that day before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate. After all verification and due process is concluded, and the SDM is satisfied, the certificate is granted on the same day.
How to download marriage certificate online?
Several states in India have now extended the facility of allowing married couples to download their marriage certificates online. In this regard, various State governments have started civil registration portal for marriage certificate and other documents like birth & death certificate. The online submission of the application requires you to have scanned copies of valid documents to upload and also photographs of the wedding ceremony. Citizens are facilitated with marriage certificate, correction etc. and the status is provided through SMS as well as on personal emails.
Below are some of the states and cities where online registration of marriage is available:
- Delhi
- Uttar Pradesh
- Mumbai
- Madhya Pradesh
- Tamil Nadu
- Rajasthan
One can also use the GOV+ platform and request certified copies of numerous documents like your marriage license, marriage certificate, birth certificate, and more without leaving home. You can complete your requests in three simple steps:
- Complete our quick, easy online application.
- Take a picture of your photo ID for verification.
- Await hard and digital copies of your vital records.
How to get Marriage Certificate in Delhi
Once all the documents and photographs are ready, you will have to take an appointment. This appointment can be made online or by visiting the court in the relevant area.
Applying for appointment online:
Go to http://edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in/
- Click ‘Make Appointment with DM’ and register
- Select your district and continue
- Fill in the husband’s details and select ‘Registration of Marriage Certificate’
- Fill in Marriage Certificate form and select date of appointment
- Click on ‘Submit Application’
- Obtain an acknowledgement page with the details of your appointment and instructions
- Take a printout of the Acknowledgement
Fees for Marriage Registration Certificate
The fees for marriage registration certificate in Delhi are as follows:
- Rs. 100 in the event of Hindu Marriage Act
- Rs.150 in the event of Special Marriage Act
The fees are to be deposited with the cashier of District and the receipt attached with the application form.
Obtaining Marriage Certificate in Other States
- One can use to download the Marriage Registration Form and Marriage Certificate form of various states. For example, in Gujarat one can use the Gujarat Marriage Registration Forum and Gujarat Marriage Certificate Form. The same forms are available in other states as well with the names of the respective states.
Marriage through Tatkal Service in Delhi
The Delhi Government in 2014 created a tatkal service that works to issue a proper certification of a marriage under an expedited process. Tatkal service is a single day-day fast-track authorization of the marriage in which the registration process will be undertaken on priority. The service enables citizens to register their wedding and get a certificate issued within 24 hours on payment of Rs. 10,000 as a fee.
How to update your marriage certificate
Following are certain ways whereby you can update your marriage certificate or get your name changed:
- Error in Marriage Certificate: In case you’ve written your married name on the certificate and some other details need to be changed, a simple notarized affidavit is required to be submitted to the Registrar for correction in the certificate.
- Change of Name in Marriage Certificate: If the marriage certificate contains the name prior to marriage i.e. the title has not been changed then the change of name can take place by a notarized affidavit declaring their intention to change the name after marriage. the registrar shall issue a fresh certificate after submission of a Demand Draft along with the required fee for the change.
- Change of Name with marriage certificate: In cases where the marriage certificate contains married title, the name can be changed with application in the government gazette.
- File a name change form, attach a copy of the marriage certificate and pay the fee as prescribed for the procedure.
- The concerned officer will issue a receipt against the application
- Once the same is done 4 copies of the gazette carrying your application details and changed name will be mailed to the address mentioned in the application.
The entire procedure takes around 15-20 days.
