Marriage is the most complex and deep web of human relationships, and it has been seen as an important determinant of society and the social system. Marriage is a global social institution that is inextricably linked to family life.  It is a marriage that initiates the establishment of a family, which continues from generation to generation. When a man and a woman marry, their kids signify the perpetuation of a continuous line of generations, which symbolizes the foundation of a new family.

In India, there is no such thing as a small wedding. People start planning their children’s weddings as soon as they are born and go to great lengths to ensure that their families’ weddings are celebrated to the utmost extent possible. Meanwhile, amidst all the joy and wedding planning, it is important to have the marriage to be officially recognized in our nation.

This will result in the issuance of an online marriage certificate, which will be required for all joint undertakings between the couple, such as purchasing property or obtaining a spouse visa to travel overseas.

Furthermore, if things do not go well and one considers divorce, an online marriage certificate is required. Additionally, if one of the partners passes away, the certificate is quite useful in obtaining an insurance claim. Hence, registering for marriage is the most important and prudent thing to do. In this blog, you will understand the procedure to obtain an online marriage certificate in India.

What is an online marriage certificate?

An online marriage certificate is a legal document that establishes the relationship between the husband and the wife. The district marriage registrar issues the online marriage certificates following the religious and special marriage acts.

Marriages in India are administered by the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 or the Special Marriage Act of 1954. In 2006, The Honorable Supreme Court of India deemed it obligatory to register a marriage to legalize it. Though most people are aware that getting a marriage registered in India is a legal requirement, they are unaware of the procedure and end up either paying too much to an agent or getting greatly troubled. Here, eSahayak will help you in getting an online marriage certificate in India without troubling you much.

Registration for an online marriage certificate

Just like many other things available online in India these days, marriage registration is also available online. Online registration is more desired since it saves time and difficulty, and it eliminates the need to stand in long lines, which should be avoided in this era of social distancing. It reduces the need for several appointments with the marriage registrar. The steps are as follows:

• First, open the official website of the state government to which the applicant belongs.
• Then browse through the website to find the marriage registration form.
• Fill in the personal details required in the form for both parties to the marriage.
• Once you’ve completed the form, submit it.

The marriage registrar will summon the applicant for a specific date and time after the form is completed. When you are called upon,  It is compulsory to be at the marriage registrar’s office on time along with all the documents listed in the article below, otherwise, you have to face the repercussions. At the time of the marriage, two witnesses from each side should be present at the marriage registrar’s office

It should be kept in mind that the marriage registrar normally gives the date and time of the marriage 15-30 days after the form is submitted for a marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. Furthermore, it is approximately 60 days in the case of the Special Marriage Act of 1954.

Where to register for an online marriage certificate in India?

A marriage in India can be registered both online and offline, as previously stated. In India, online marriage registration is available in most major cities. If either of the party has resided in the state for more than six months, they must log in to the official website of the state where the marriage was solemnized. Then he or she must complete the marriage registration form available on the website.

The person who applied for the registration will be summoned to the registrar’s office for a meeting with him to verify the couple’s documents and witnesses, after which the registrar will register the marriage.

Offline marriage registration is also an option for those who find the online marriage certificate process too difficult. In an offline registration, one must visit the sub- registrar’s office in the jurisdiction where the marriage was solemnized. After that, you must manually fill out the application,  followed by both the party’s signature and the relevant documents. If there are no objections after 30 days, the marriage application will be recorded.

It’s important to understand that an online marriage certificate registered under the Special Marriage Act of 1954 can only be solemnized by a marriage officer. In such circumstances, the couple gives the registrar a notice, which is then posted on the notice board for the next 30 days. If no objections are raised during this time, the marriage is recorded.

What documents are required to get an online marriage certificate?

The documents required to register a marriage in India may differ slightly from one state to another. However, most of it, though, remains the same. It’s crucial to remember that all documents must be duly signed by a gazetted officer before being submitted. The following are the standard documents for all states:

1. A duly filled application form signed by both parties, i.e. the husband and wife.
2. A document that serves as proof of birth. It could be a matriculation certificate, a birth certificate, or a passport. The male applicant for marriage registration must be 21 years old, while the female applicant must be 18 years old. This is valid for the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 as well as the Special Marriage Act of 1954.
3. Both parties’ residential proof is required. It could be an Election Voter ID, a PAN Card, an Aadhar Card, a Ration Card, or an electricity bill.
4. If the marriage took place in a religious place, a certificate from the institution recognizes the marriage’s solemnization.
5. An amount to be submitted to the district cashier, i.e. Rs 100 if the marriage is registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and Rs 150 if the marriage is registered under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. The payment receipt must also be submitted to the application form.
6. Two passport-sized photographs of both parties, i.e. the husband and wife along with one wedding photo in case the marriage has previously been solemnized.
7. If the marriage is solemnized, the invitation card for the wedding.
8. Both parties must certify that they are neither connected to nor fall into the decree of the prohibited relationship as defined by the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 or the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
9. If any of the parties is a divorcee, an attested copy of the divorce decree must be submitted along with the application form.
10. If any of the parties is a widow or widower, the spouse’s death certificate should be provided with an application form.
11. An affidavit stating the place of marriage, date of marriage, time of marriage, marital status, and nationality of both parties should be submitted to the application form.
12. At the time of the meeting, two witnesses from each side must be present in the sub-registrar office.
13. If the marriage is solemnized, two witnesses who attended the wedding must be present at the time of the meeting in the sub-registrar office.

Conclusion

Hence, an online Marriage Certificate is an official document that establishes the couple’s marital status.  It is a significant document on which one can rely to establish that they are lawfully married to someone, as well as for a variety of other purposes such as using one’s maiden name, creating a bank account, getting a passport, applying for a certificate of income, claiming the insurance money, claiming the assets if your name appears in a will with relationship, etc.

The reason for making marriage registration mandatory is to strengthen society by giving equal rights to both partners (husband and wife), exercising the right to inherit, preventing child marriage, and avoiding cases of marriage fraud. If you want to know more about online marriage certificates, contact eSahayak.