How to obtain Marriage Certificate

Last week I completed one long pending activity, to get my marriage certificate. The process itself is pretty simple if you are already married. Oh.. yeah, by the way this process is only for thos who are already married as per hindu marriage customs. This process does not describe how to get married infront of a registrar. I was already married and wanted to get my marriage recognized by the Government of India. Of late there are many software engineers visiting foreign countries and obtaining marriage certificates so that they can take their spouses along. I am not one among them, I just thought I would keep the marriage certificate with me. The marriages are registered with Sub-Registrar - Special Officer for Marriages. Everybody in the sub-registrar office responsible for marriage registration are pretty much aware why does someone need a marriage certificate and they have certain expecations from you interms of 'donation' you could offer to the clerk there.

Step by step procedure to get marriage certificate:

Step1 - Find the sub-registrar office

You could get your marriage registred in a city or town where you can produce residence proof. As I said, the marriage is registered in the sub-registrar office. The sub-registrar office is usually located in the same premises of the same sub-registrar who registers property deals. So, its not a tough job to find out where this office is. Just ask any real-estate broker in your area, he would guide you where the sub-registrar office is.

Step2 - Submit the required documents

Following documents are required:

1. Age proof in the form of 10th standard certificate or passport (A Photocopy of either of them)

It is better to inquire at the office which one do they accept. For me, they did not accept passport as age proof, he specifically wanted 10th certificate for age proof for both of us.

2. Residence Proof (Passport or Driver's License) 

I submitted two wheeler driver's license and my wife submitted her passport

3. Three photos with clear faces of bride and groom 

The three photos taken during three important stages of marriage (one is during Muhurat, next while tieing the knot and third what we call Talambralu in telugu-I dont know how to say it in other languages).

4. Form 1A - can be obtained outside the regitrar office for Rs. 5 or Rs.10/-

5. Two applications one for bride and one for groom on a Rs.10/- stamp paper with the details of marriage (They can also be obtained from the vendor outside the office for a nominal charge - Maximum Rs.100).

6. Wedding cards from both parties

7. A certificate issued by the Wedding Hall that your marriage took place at certain date & time with your names including your family name.

All the above documents are mandatory and lack of any can not be excepted.

Step 3: Three witnesses

After you have all the above documents, just walk into registrar's office along with your spouse and three witnesses. The registrar will examine your documents and you require three witnesses to sign on Form 1A. Once the documents are examined, you would proceed to a clerk who would ask you and your spouse to sign in the marriage register. All the three witnesses would also have to sign here.

Step 4: The clerk would then ask you to come back on the same day - usually in the evening when nobody is around so that you could make your 'donation'. I donated six hundred after he demanded.

I hope this post is useful for you. There might be slight variations to the process depending on place to place. But the required documents might be the same.