The Legal Aspect: All the Details on Registering Your Marriage, Changing Your Name and Everything in Between!

In between planning all the big and small details revolving around events, there is one important aspect that is not spoken about enough and yet is as crucial as the others. Legalising your knot!  Just like various certificates awarded during our life, to legitimise and get your marriage recognised, you need to register marriage and get a certificate. As daunting as any official task relating to the law and government may seem, registering your marriage has become a streamlined and easy process. But you need to know how to register marriage to avoid any hassles. While getting married in the presence of all your loved one may seem to lay the foundation of your relationship in concrete, there is also a need to register marriage and obtain a marriage certificate to mark the union as legally valid. This legal document is a modern necessity as it is essential for spousal privileges, legal status, proof of name etc. Getting a loan, leasing an apartment, applying for visa all of this becomes much easier owing to this document.

1. Confused by the Acts?

While we all know there are different types of marriages in our diverse culture following a different set of norms and ceremonies while staying to true to the essence of weddings. So now keeping in mind these distinctions, there are two acts under which you may legalise your knot and register marriage:  Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 or under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. The difference between the two is very simple, Hindu Marriage Act is applicable where both parties belong to Hindu, Buddhist, Jain or Sikh community whereas for Special Marriage Act is for all Indian citizens irrespective of their religion.

2. Necessities for registering your marriage

Now, applying for a marriage certificate is fairly easy with a little preparation. You must get all your documents, including proof of residence of the couple, date of birth proof for both, photos of the marriage ceremony, one family photo, passport size pictures, identity proof, receipt of marriage venue, minimum of 7 photos of the couple, affidavits from the couple and lastly group photos. Apart from these documents and pictures, the couple needs to sign the application form and get two witnesses from both the side of the bride and groom (one from each side to seal the deal and register marriage. You can always contact a marriage registrar or your family lawyer for further details of what is needed and what to do before making an appointment.

3. Applying online for the certificate

Most states and union territories now have provisions where couples can apply for marriage certificate online, on their municipal corporation level or local body level web portals. Married couples can register and fill in the application form. All the documents required when you apply physically for the certificate remain the same for an online application, so prepare accordingly to register marriage. Once you upload all the necessary details, you will be asked to choose your preferred appointment date. You must keep a copy of the acknowledgement for future reference. And now just like the regular process, you will have to visit the magistrate's office with your proofs, witnesses on the chosen date.

4. On changing names

Once Brides do decide to change their name, they are just bogged down by the very thought of the entire elaborate process of changing their name on every government approved ID ranging from the passport to Aadhaar card. While on the surface, things may seem tricky but with preparation, everything is made simple and efficient to register marriage. After you register marriage and have a verified Aadhaar card all you must do is keep your marriage certificate and significant other’s passport handy. The whole process is online, after uploading the documents you will receive a PIN on your registered number to complete the process. Once all the details are verified, you can download the modified Aadhaar from their website. With this detail seeded into your Aadhaar, you can use it as a supporting document to change your name in other important documents including passport, bank account records and even employment IDs.

After getting married this is the first step you must take as a couple to legitimise your relationship for the law and make life easier. This modern necessity to register marriage arises from the need to live, travel and plan your future seamlessly. Soon after the wedding celebrations are over, you can consult a lawyer, if need be, check the required websites and prepare all the documents to register marriage. Going through this process will also ensure that one cannot take advantage of another during their marriage. It is a way to safeguard yourself apart from making life as easy as a couple. Without this document, your elaborate wedding was just a ritual, it is this document that pronounces you as man and wife.

So go ahead register marriage for moving one step ahead in your new journey as a couple!