How to Register Marriage? Well, It’s Super Easy! Keep Reading to Find Out How!
With your marriage on the cards, there’s a crucial element of your life that you must sort out – the legalities of your wedding! Find out how to register marriage so that you can do the same!
When your Saat Phere are over and done with, do not take a sigh of relief because technically, you still aren’t married! Confused? Well, here’s the deal – you’re married from a religious and spiritual point of view, but when it comes to the law, you’re not really married yet! This is because you have to get your married registered so that the government can recognise this new change in your life. Yes, it does sound a little tedious, but it is definitely one of the most important things you can get done once you are married.
In spite of this being a super important thing, many people don’t really know how to register marriage. In the olden days before the internet made inroads into every aspect of our lives, people had to stand and wait in line for ages for simple procedures. Truthfully, considering the way Indian bureaucracy works, this probably hasn’t changed. However, what has changed is the fact that you can do a fair bit of this procedure online. So, if you’re procrastinating on getting your marriage registered because you think the process is too annoying, we’re here to tell you that there’s always a much easier way!
Keep reading to know how to register marriage!
1. How to register marriage: Pre-registration duties!
Before you fill out the form, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. Being a legal procedure, you need a few crucial documents to ensure that everything goes smoothly. One of these documents includes pictures of your wedding. So, before you do anything, you need to make sure that you have a decent wedding photographer to take stunning pictures of your wedding. Not only will these pictures help you get your marriage registered, but they’ll also work as beautiful visual reminders of one of the biggest moments of your life. You can put up the best ones in your home and remember how great you felt when you were getting married! But, enough on home decoration later. Let’s get back to how to register marriage!
Another crucial pre-registration duty includes having your legal identification documents such as your Aadhar Card or passport up to date. Getting your passport updated requires you to head down to the passport office, suffer through three different queues and finally get the stamp of approval. To get your Aadhard Card, you should either go to a centre near your home or do it online. If you’ve already got these documents sorted, you don’t have to worry about them.
Finally, you’ll also have to ensure that you get your pandit’s signature attesting to the fact that you got married once the ceremony is over. Though some registrars don’t really ask for this, there are many who do. If you’re wondering how to register marriage, the trick is to be overcautious with documents!
2. How to register marriage: Post-marriage duties!
Now, once you’re married, you and your spouse must head down to the registrar’s office to fill out a marriage application form and submit your documents. You can either register your marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act or the Special Marriage Act, depending on whichever applies. Based on the same, you will be given a form to fill out. If you’re doing this online, fill out the form and submit it. If you’re doing this at a registrar’s office, submit the form manually.
Once this is done, you’ll be given a date in the future. On this day, you must come and collect your marriage certificate. If your wedding is registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, you’ll get your certificate in 15 days, otherwise, it can take 30 days. A bit unfair, if you ask us!
Do remember to ask at least two separate witnesses to come along with you as they must sign on the form to attest to the fact that you are married to your spouse. Witnesses can be your close friends or family members, and this is a personal choice altogether.
3. Collecting the certificate
On the day of collecting the certificate, be sure to carry all your documents again, just in case. Though you will only be collecting the document that confirms you are married, sometimes certain officers want to go over the details once more if they feel the need to. Having your papers on hand can prevent any other unnecessary delays in the process. As a general rule, you can ask your registrar how to register marriage with the documents you have. In case you’re missing crucial papers, they will let you know.
After you are married, your spouse or you may want to change your name. You may need to update your passport accordingly, make changes to your Aadhar card, and even your driver’s license. In order to do all of this, you need a certificate that proves that you are married. Therefore, you should not skip out on getting your marriage registered. Now that you know how to register marriage, you should do so the minute you get hitched!
Get in touch with our pandit ji for a smooth ceremony!
