While post-wedding photoshoots and celebrations are important, don’t forget to make time for legally registering your marriage. Furthermore, if you want to go on an international honeymoon or relocate abroad with your spouse, make sure you apply early so that you may get a spouse visa in time. While spending time with your loved one is important for a good marriage, don’t forget or postpone this one procedure because it ensures that your wedding is recognized as a legitimate union in India. Here’s all you need to know about getting a marriage certificate in Tamil Nadu.
Why Register?
A marriage certificate is an important legal document that provides a legal and valid definition of a couple’s relationship. Furthermore, it is frequently used as proof of marriage while applying for several other documentations such as:
- Adding your spouse’s name to your passport, bank account or Aadhar card
- While changing your maiden name
- While claiming life insurance return
- Partner visa for spouse
Documents Required for Registration
- Proof of address
- Proof of age
- Affidavits in a prescribed format
- Individual photographs
- Certificate from the priest who sanctified the wedding
- One wedding photo
- Wedding invitation card copy
- Certificate of conversion, death certificate or divorce certificate if applicable
- If applicable, as per the Christian Marriage Act, the reference number, dispatch number and Church Certificate are also required to complete the process
- Two witnesses who have valid proof of identity and residency
Conditions and Eligibility
In Tamil Nadu, every marriage can be certified and registered as per:
- Tamil Nadu Marriage Act, 2009
- Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
- Special Marriage Act, 1954
- Christian Marriage Act, 1872
- Muslim Marriage Act, 1954
- Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936
Marriage under all the aforementioned Acts is legally binding and which Act you choose to validate your marriage legally depends on the religion you follow and the circumstances leading up to your wedding. To constitute a legitimate marriage as per the Acts mentioned above, here are the conditions you need to meet:
- Both the groom and bride must be above the age of 21 and 18 respectively.
- Both the intending spouses must give their consent to the wedding freely and voluntarily.
- Neither the groom nor the bride should have another living spouse recognized by law.
- The marriage must be solemnised in front of a licensed government official and at least two other, reliable witnesses.
Which Marriage Act,
- Any new marriage which was conducted not before 150 days can be registered under the Tamil Nadu Marriage Act irrespective of the religion of the bride and groom.
- A marriage that is older than 150 days can only be registered as per the Hindu Marriage Act or Special Marriage Act and so on, and this certification is based on the religion of the bride and groom.
- The Hindu Marriage Act works only if both the husband and wife are:
- Hindus
- Buddhists
- Jains
- Sikhs
- If either spouse is of a different religion than the ones stated above, then those individuals may find the Special Marriage Act to be more suitable and applicable.
- Hence, the Special Marriage Act works for inter-religion marriages while the Christian Marriage Act may be used to register all Christian weddings as the name suggests.
How to Register a Marriage
- Locate a registrar or sub-registrar office near your vicinity. You can also search online to find out which office you are eligible to apply in as per law.
- The registrar is selected depending on whether he or she was present to solemnise the marriage or sometimes because it was within the jurisdiction that either of the spouses resided in for over six months.
- Apply either offline, by going directly to the office or online.
- Submit the application form.
- Visit the registrar on the delegated date to complete the process.
- When you visit the office, the registrar will verify the documents you have uploaded and submitted.
- Following successful verification, the marriage registration process will be deemed complete.
According to the Special Marriage Act, both spouses must provide a 30-day interim period during which the registrar office will post their marriage notice so that anyone who objects can raise the matter before the couple is officially married. If no objections are raised after this period, the marriage is registered.
court or Civil Marriage
If you wish to travel abroad soon after the wedding and hence require a spouse visa, you can choose to get married in the court before your actual wedding so that the registration process gets sped up significantly. Usually, this is done after the engagement and before the actual wedding date. Following this, the partner is free to file for a spouse visa. The steps in this process are as follow –
- Notify the registrar about the impending marriage. Please note that either spouse should have lived in Tamil Nadu for a minimum of 30 days
- The registrar puts up a marriage notice in their office. If there is no objection from anyone, the marriage is formalised.
- The next step happens at the registrar office and requires the attendance of at least three witnesses. The marriage certificate registration costs ₹100/- and solemnisation usually costs ₹150/-
If the online registration is complete, obtain the marriage certificate by clicking the following link. If not, get in touch with our experts right away! Our professionals will ensure that no legal entanglements will affect your married life right from the get-go! https://registermarriage.org