How long does marriage registration take?
If the marriage has already taken place, registration under the Hindu Marriage Act is often completed the same day or within 2-3 working days. The Special Marriage Act requires a 30-day notice period.
How many years after the wedding can a marriage be registered?
A marriage can be registered at any time, whether the wedding was months or years ago. Older marriages require some additional proof such as photographs, the invitation card and witnesses.
What documents are required for registration?
ID and age proof for both partners, address proof, wedding photographs, the wedding invitation card (if available), and 2-3 witnesses. We prepare the exact list and the affidavit for you.
What is a marriage certificate used for?
It is required for a visa, passport, joint bank account, insurance, name change and as legal proof of marriage. It is an official government document.
Do both partners need to appear in person?
Yes. At the time of registration both partners and the witnesses are normally required to appear before the registrar. We manage the appointment and provide complete guidance.
Is marriage registration compulsory in Delhi?
Yes. The Delhi (Compulsory Registration of Marriage) Order, 2014 requires marriages solemnised in Delhi to be registered, whatever the religion of the parties, following the Supreme Court’s direction in Seema v. Ashwani Kumar that states should make registration of marriages compulsory. The order was made to protect women and children, prevent child marriage and bigamy, and give couples reliable proof of marriage. Registration is done through the revenue department’s process with the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate.
Is a marriage invalid if it is not registered?
No. For Hindu marriages, the Hindu Marriage Act expressly says that the validity of a marriage is not affected by failure to register it. What registration gives is proof: a certificate that officials, embassies, banks and courts accept without further questions. An unregistered couple may later have to prove the marriage with photographs, witnesses and affidavits, which is slower and less certain, and in Delhi may also face consequences for not complying with the compulsory registration order.
Can we register a marriage that took place years ago?
Yes. Many couples register years after the wedding, usually when a passport, visa, bank or employer asks for a certificate. The registrar will want evidence that the marriage was solemnised: the wedding invitation card, photographs of the ceremony, a certificate from the temple, gurudwara or other place of marriage if available, identity and address documents of both of you, an affidavit from each of you and witnesses. A late fee may apply under the rules. The longer the gap, the more carefully the file should be prepared.
What is the difference between registration under the Hindu Marriage Act and under the Special Marriage Act?
Registration under the Hindu Marriage Act records a marriage that has already been solemnised by Hindu rites between two Hindus, Sikhs, Jains or Buddhists. The Special Marriage Act has two routes: solemnising a new civil marriage after thirty days’ notice, and registering a marriage already celebrated in another form, if the conditions of the Act are satisfied. Registering an existing marriage under the Special Marriage Act can have consequences for succession and family property, so the Hindu Marriage Act route is usually preferred for Hindu couples. Our
Special Marriage Act page explains the civil route.
Our wedding took place in another state. Can we register it in Delhi?
It depends on where the registration rules allow the application to be made. Generally, a marriage can be registered where it was solemnised, and some rules also allow registration where either spouse has been residing. If the wedding was in another state and you now live in Delhi, we check which office will accept the application, or whether it is simpler to register in the state where the wedding took place. Residence proof, such as a rent agreement, is often decisive.
Can Muslim, Christian and Sikh marriages be registered in Delhi?
Yes. The Delhi order applies to marriages of all communities. A Muslim marriage is recorded in a nikahnama, a Christian marriage in the church’s marriage register under the Indian Christian Marriage Act, and a Sikh marriage under the Anand Marriage Act or the Hindu Marriage Act; each is registered with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate under the Delhi order with the relevant proof of the ceremony. A couple of any religion may also register an existing marriage under the Special Marriage Act if its conditions are met.
There is a spelling mistake in our marriage certificate. Can it be corrected?
Yes. A mistake in a name, date or address can usually be corrected by an application to the office that registered the marriage, with documents showing the correct details and an affidavit explaining the error. Correction is much easier soon after registration than years later. Where the mistake arises because your documents themselves show different spellings, a
one and same person affidavit is often needed to explain the difference.
Our marriage certificate is lost. How do we get a copy?
A certified copy can be obtained from the registering office, and where registration was done online, the record can often be traced through the portal using the registration number. You will need identity documents and, in many cases, an application stating how the original was lost. If the certificate was needed for a pending passport or visa, a police complaint or loss report and an affidavit may also help; our
lost document affidavit guide explains that document.
Our names are different in Aadhaar, school records and the passport. Will registration be refused?
Not necessarily, but mismatched documents are the most common reason for delay. The registrar needs to be satisfied that the person in each document is the same. The usual solution is an affidavit explaining the variations, together with the documents in which the correct name appears. Wherever possible, correct the Aadhaar record before applying, because it is the document most offices check first. We review your documents before the appointment so that the problem is solved in advance.
Do we need a lawyer to register our marriage?
No. Registration is an administrative process with the registrar, and a couple can apply directly. What we provide is preparation: checking eligibility, preparing the affidavits and the application, organising witnesses and appointment dates, and making sure that the documents are consistent. If any dispute about the marriage later reaches a court, that is for your advocate, whose fee is engaged and paid by you directly.
