How to Apply Marriage Certificate

Marriage Certificate and Registration of Marriage – A Marriage Certificate is an essential document as it is significant proof of the existence of a valid marriage. A Marriage Certificate is issued to a couple on registration of a valid marriage. In this article, we will discuss a Marriage Certificate’s application process and other aspects in detail. If you are planning to marry soon, are newly married, or still need to register your marriage, this article is for you.

If you are still reading this article, consider registering your marriage and obtaining a Vivah Praman Patra. Let’s dive in to learn how you can register your marriage and get your Marriage Certificate.

What Is a Marriage Certificate?

A Marriage Certificate is an official document issued to a couple by the designated authority declaring that they are married to each other and hold the legal status of being husband and wife respectively. 

Registration of Marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and Special Marriage Act, 1954

Section 8 of the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 provides for marriage registration and states that the State Government may make rules for compulsory marriage registration. In such a case, non-registration of marriage would result in a penalty of up to Rupees 250 per year. 

Why Should You Register Your Marriage? 

Though a properly solemnized marriage is valid even if it is not registered, it is suggested to register the marriage for legal purposes and for availing the benefit of Government schemes. A Vivah Praman Patra is the official documentation of your marital status, crucial for various legal and administrative purposes. 

Benefits of a Marriage Certificate 

Following are some of the benefits/uses of a Marriage Certificate:-

• A Marriage Certificate is legal proof of the existence of a valid marriage.
• It ensures that in the event of the death of a spouse, the other one inherits the property of the deceased according to will or intestate succession, as the case may be.
• It enables a spouse to avail of social security benefits, healthcare benefits, and other benefits based on the type of employment of the other.
• Facilitates obtaining visas and permanent residency for your spouse in other countries.
• Allows you for joint tax filing and potential tax deductions or credits
• It enables you to open joint bank accounts, apply for shared loans, and manage finances together.
• It allows adding your spouse to your health life and other insurance policies, potentially reducing the costs.
• It grants your spouse visitation rights in hospitals and the ability to make medical decisions on your behalf if incapacitated.
• Provides spouse access to retirement benefits and Social Security survivor benefits upon the death of the other.
• It establishes legal parentage for children born within the marriage, ensuring their rights and access to benefits.

Moreover, it formalizes the relationship and offers greater social acceptance, potentially strengthening the bond between the couple and leading to long-term stability. 

How to Obtain a Marriage Certificate?

All married couples should obtain a Marriage Certificate soon after their marriage. With time, the Vivah Praman Patra process has become easy as you can apply online for this certificate. If you don’t want to apply online, you can visit your Village Panchayat office, Sub-divisional Magistrate, or District Collector Office to make an offline application. However, it is essential for a bride to have completed 18 years of age and for the groom to have completed 21 years of age to get their marriage registered. 

Marriage Certificate Documents Requirement

Here is a list of required Marriage Certificate documents:-

• Passport-size photograph of bride and groom 
• Bride and groom Aadhaar cards or any other identity proof
• Wedding invitation card
• A picture of their wedding
• Age proof of bride and groom
• Residential certificate
• Affidavit of Bride and Groom attested by the Notary Public 
• Details and affidavit of 2 witnesses of wedding ceremonies attested by the Notary Public
• In case the marriage takes place outside India, you will have to obtain a “No Objection Certificate” from the Indian Embassy

Registration Fee for Marriage Certificate

Generally, the fee for registration under the Hindu Marriage Act is Rupees 100 if the marriage is registered within one month of solemnization. But for registration after completion of one month, a fee of Rupees 250 is chargeable. In the case of the Special Marriage Act, a fee of Rupees 150 is chargeable for marriage registration.

However, it may vary across states as each state in India has its own set of rules and regulations. The Vivah Praman Patra fee varies based on factors like residency, nationality, and type of marriage ceremony. Additionally, you may have to pay processing charges, printing charges, postal fees, etc. 

Online Marriage Certificate Application 

For the Marriage Certificate apply online, do follow the below-mentioned steps:-

Step 1: Visit the official website of the National Portal of India by clicking this link: https://www.india.gov.in/. 

Step 2: Type “Marriage Certificate” in the search box and click the button.

Step 3: Click on the option of your state from the search results. 

Step 4: Go to the marriage certificate application link on the official portal of your state/UT. 

Step 5: In the Marriage Certificate form, fill in all the required details of the bride & groom (including your email ID and Mobile Number) in the form and proceed. 

Step 6: Upload all the required documents in the specified format and apply. 

How to Get a Marriage Certificate Offline?

Residents of India can also apply offline for Vivah Praman Patra. For this, you can read the following detailed step-by-step process:

Step 1: First of all, get an application form from a nearby eMitra Center, or you can download it Online

Step 2: Fill in all the required information in the Marriage Registration application form.

Step 3: Now get five affidavit papers. Get the signatures of the Bride, the Groom, one witness from both sides and the signature of Pandit Ji. 

Step 4: Get a Notary by a Lawyer of these documents.

Step 5: Attach a photocopy of all the required documents, one original photo, and your marriage invitation card.

Step 6: If you are applying in a rural area, Submit the form to VDO (Gram Vikas Adhikari). If you are applying in a city, Submit the application form to the Registrar of Nagar Nigam office.

Marriage Certificate Download

To download Marriage Certificate online, ensure you have completed your registration process. Once you have applied and all your documents have been verified, your certificate will be available on the government website within 3-10 days. Here are the three simple steps for your query of ‘Marriage Certificate download‘ online:-

Step 1: Visit the official government website – https://services.india.gov.in/ 

Step 2: Navigate the marriage certificate section.

Step 3: Fill in the required details and process. You can now complete the process of your marriage certificate download PDF. 

Penalty for Non-Registration of Marriage

According to the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 if a State Government makes it compulsory to register marriage, the person who contravenes any such rule shall be punishable with a fine of Rupees 250 per year. 

FAQs

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed the complete online application process for a Marriage Certificate and other essential aspects. One can easily apply for a Marriage Certificate after reading this article. Hope you find this article helpful and informative. For more such articles, please keep visiting our website regularly.