Marriage is a union of two souls who respect, love, care and understand each other at every easy and difficult phase of life. In India, marriage is an institution which admits men and women to family life.

Marriage Registration Lawyers
Marriage Registration Lawyers

In 2006, Supreme court of India made it mandatory to register marriages. In our Country, marriage can either be registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 or under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. The Hindu Marriage Act is applicable to Hindus, whereas the Special Marriage Act is applicable to all citizens of India irrespective of their religion.

Hindu Marriage Act(HMA)1955
To be eligible for marriage in India, male must attain the age of 21 years and for females its 18 years. The Hindu Marriage Act is applicable in cases where both husband and wife are Hindus, Buddhists, Jains or Sikhs, or where they have converted into any of these religions.

Marriage can be registered in offline as well as online mode.

Offline Mode
Marriage can be registered at the Registrar Officer (SDM) in Residence of bridegroom or Residence of bride or Solemnization place.

Applicant have to get and fill the application form from the Registrar Office and have to provide
the following information.
· Date of Marriage
· Place of Marriage
· Details of Bride and Bridegroom
· Details of Bride and Bridegroom parents
· Permanent Address
· Other details related to registration

Applicant have to submit an application form in the prescribed format along with all the supporting documents.

  • Supporting Documents-Age Proof, Address Proof, Two passport size photographs of couples, Death Certificate in case of widow or widower for re-marriage, Wedding Card, Statement of Bride-Bridegroom and their Parents, Two witness, Any other document or proof in support of marriage solemnized.

Online Mode
Applicant can application form online on Official District website

Validity- Marriage Certificate Valid forever.

Special Marriage Act (SMA) 1954
The Special Marriage Act was enacted to provide a special form of marriage by any person in India and all Indian nationals in foreign countries irrespective of the religion of either party to the marriage. The marriage performed under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 is a civil contract and accordingly, there is no need for ceremony.

Couple  want to get married or Register their marriage under SMA, the following step need to be followed.

Couple have to give a notice in a writing to a marriage Officer of the Place in which any of the couple is residing for the last 30 days. The Marriage is supposed to be scheduled in the 3 months of the notice. Once the notice has been received by the marriage officer has to be published by displaying in conspicuous place and one copy has to be kept in the marriage notice book which can be inspected by anyone a free of charge. From 30 Days after the notice anyone can object to marriage. If there is no objection marriage can be solemnized at the end of the 30-day period.

On the date given by Marriage Officer Bride and groom with three witnesses have to sign the declaration in the presence of the marriage officer.

After All this marriage is finally solemnized.

This post is written by Nidhi Sharma of Punjabi University. For more info, please dial 99888-17966.