Court marriage procedure- Hire the best lawyer

  • Karuna Sharma
In India, the Special Marriage Act, 1954 is all about the court marriage, performed irrespective of caste, religion, creed, and colour. So, when brides and grooms belong to different religions, court marriage is the right option. It refers to the way to solemnize a marriage from a legal perspective. Inter-religion and inter-caste couples can go for court marriages. You can look for a court marriage lawyer in Delhi to tie a knot with the dream partner in your life. By applying to a Marriage Registrar, you will receive a marriage certificate.

Eligibility criteria for court marriages-

Not everyone is eligible for a court marriage. You have to fulfill some criteria.
  • During the marriage, the parties must not have lived as the normal husband-wife.
  • The minimum age of the bride should be 18 years, while the groom must be at least 21 years.
  • The concerned parties must not have an unsound mind. No one has to pressurize them into a marital relationship.
  • They should not have any type of mental disorder or insanity.
  • There should not be prohibited relationships between the grooms and brides according to their customs.

To ensure that you are qualified for the court marriage, you can engage an advocate in India.

Why do several brides and grooms prefer court marriages?

  • There is no hassle in the process.
  • You do not need to pay a high amount for this marriage. You can avoid the cost of hosting wedding ceremonies and performing different rituals.
  • You can solemnize the marriage in the way you desire.
  • The process cannot be accomplished without the parties’ consent. Both brides and grooms have to sign their documents willingly.

For these reasons, a marriage in court will be better than a normal wedding.

Court marriages- What documents do you need?

The groom and the bride should separately submit-

  • Evidence of their birth dates
  • Any proof of the current marital status- Divorce, widower, and unmarried- The divorcee should show the divorce copy, while the widower must submit the deceased spouse's death certificate.
  • Confirmation that the parties have no prohibited relationships.
  • Residential proof
  • Passport size photos (4 copies)
  • A signed copy of the Notice of Intended Marriage

Steps for getting a certificate for your court marriage-

Consult an advocate-

A lawyer in the relevant field will guide you to go through the legal procedure for marriage. He knows the way to fill out the form. So, the overall process would be smoother for you.

Create a draft of the Notice of Intended Marriage-

This draft will be created on your behalf.

Select the marriage venue-

Jurisdiction selection is another important step in solemnizing the marriage.

Check the documentation-

The advocate will choose a time slot, which is convenient for you and your partner. There should be 3 witnesses at the Marriage Registrar’s office. In this step, documents will undergo the final checking process. You can then file the intended marriage notice.

Notice publication-

The marriage officer needs to publish your notice and request the intended marriage objections within a month of this publication. When someone has raised objections, the officer will check them. There will be no marriage solemnization in case the objections are proved right.

Decide on the date of marriage-

In case of the absence of any objections, the parties have to select a date and present 3 witnesses for the marriage. The overall process will be accomplished in front of the officer.

You can now wait for the certificate of your marriage. The procedure may take almost 60 to 90 days, including the registration and notice period.

What are the major responsibilities of a lawyer in court marriage in India?

The lawyer needs to ensure the consent of the parties. He will also inform you about the registration place and the relevant law. Moreover, he will guide you in preparing essential documents for marriage registration. So, you will save time and reduce the burden. When further deliberations and claims are raised, the lawyer needs to file a claim on your behalf.

You can also hire a lawyer for marriage registration. Different marriage laws have been issued for every religion. You may not know about these laws, so, the advocate will provide you with the desired help.