Marriages are made in heaven. But its registration is a must because it legalizes a marriage and helps establish marital status. So, anyone who is likely to solemnize it in a civil or religious ceremony. Certainly, it’s not easy, as you have to go through a well-defined procedure to obtain a marriage certificate. Your state and your country can tell what its steps are.
So, you need a legal advisor or consultant to discuss how to get it. But before that, you should understand the requirements to apply for this certificate.
Understand the requirements.
In the direction of registering a marriage, you should know what the legal requirements are as per your jurisdiction. As aforesaid, these requirements are basically defined by the country or its states. So typically, you should understand them.
- The most common of all requirements is the legal age to marry. Usually, it is 18 or older.
- The next requirement is that you should not already be married to someone else.
- You may be married, but you may also be a divorced or widowed and want to get remarried.
- Furthermore, you should have certain proofs of your ideal age, which can be your birth certificate, documents to prove your single status, and residential proofs.
Choose your marriage location.
Considering that you’re going to marry, decide the location. It can be a banquet, marriage, city hall, religious place like a church, or temple. This will help you authenticate the location where your marriage has been solemnized. The marriage registration officer requires it to cross-examine or verify. However, the process of online marriage registration may be a little easier and more interesting, which you can find out online.
If you’re going to marry abroad, a single status certificate would be required. And to obtain that document, there are certain guidelines. You must have your own address and birth proof. And if you are a divorcee, enclose the decree absolute to legally prove it. For widowed people as well, presenting the death certificate of the former spouse is a must.
This procedure is lengthy. So, you must apply for this proof at least 4-6 months prior to marriage. Otherwise, the risk will be there.
Schedule your marriage ceremony.
Marriage registration is easy if you have proof of the schedule of your marriage ceremony. It can be a wedding invitation or card, stating everything about the date of all rituals and venues. So, you must save that wedding invitation.
To learn more about the related requirements, hire a consultant or coordinate with a religious leader like a priest or pandit. He can be a witness to your marriage because he has performed the rituals and knows about the marriage.
Gather the necessary documents.
Considering the registration, you should gather all the required documents. These documents can include the following:
- Identification proof, which can be a valid photo ID, such as a driver’s license, passport, or voter ID card
- The proof of birth, which can be a copy of your birth certificate ensuring your identity and actual age,
- Divorce Decree or Death Certificate (if applicable), which verifies you’ve been previously married and now legally single
- The marriage registration application form will require all details to be input, such as your names, addresses, and intended date of marriage.
Apply for a marriage license.
The registration request for marriage should be raised with the appropriate government office. For this purpose, you need to consider this matter with a legal consultant. He can guide you on how to apply for a marriage certificate from the country clerk’s office or any other authority. If its website is available, go through the online registration of marriage procedure. Or, directly contact it and discover the specific requirements and the entire process to obtain it. You can apply directly.
Attend pre-marriage counseling (if required).
Some jurisdictions appoint authorities to counsel couples before marriage. It is called pre-wedding counseling or education sessions. These sessions include how to communicate, resolve conflicts, and manage funds. But at this stage, only counseling takes place. The registration takes place after marriage. So, you may check for this kind of counseling in the church or any religious institution. This is not mandatory. You may or may not attend this session.
Pay any fees.
There is a specific amount that you have to pay, such as the marriage registration fee. It’s difficult to mention the standard amount here. The place or the country determines the exact amount of fees. It may cover the charges for processing the application. And it may include the charges for administering the ceremony and issuance of the certificate. So, be ready to pay for the fee when you apply for your marriage registration.
Wait for processing.
Considering that you have passed through the entire paper work, submit the marriage registration application together with supporting documents. The verification will go on, which can be lengthy as per your jurisdiction. So discover everything about it.
In some countries, your application can be verified immediately. And in other cases, this procedure can be a few days long. So, you are expected to explore the website of the authority. Or, physically visit to get all the details.
Get Married
The big day comes when you get married. It is a ceremony that takes place among many people, including your near and dear ones. The ceremony will be conducted by a religious leader, like a priest. As he directs, you and your partner will exchange vows and rings. This is how you will be legally married.
Sign the marriage certificate.
After the ceremony, you and your spouse will be commanded to sign the marriage certificate. This is how you officially state that you’re married. Afterward, you must keep it as proof of your marriage. It will be enclosed with the other aforementioned documents to submit to the marriage registration authority. It will verify the papers and then issue an official marriage certificate.
Obtain Your Marriage Certificate
After that big day, visit the local authority and file an application for marriage registration with the country clerk or registrar. Once received, you must obtain a certified copy of this certificate. It is recognized as an official document stating that your marriage is organized.
Later on, you may use it to change or update your name and your marital status on all official documents.
Update official records (if necessary).
If you’re likely to visit abroad or claim benefits from a government scheme, you may have to update your marital status in all official records. This would certainly include your driving license, social security card, passport, bank accounts, insurance policies, and other legal papers. So, you can enclose your registered marriage proof and follow the requisite procedures for it.
This is how you can obtain and leverage your legitimate marriage registration proof.
Conclusion
Marriage registration may or may not be necessary in your country. But registering can allow you to leverage many government schemes and benefits. Certainly, it will not be easy. It requires you to provide complete information regarding where to register, what documents to enclose, and where to submit the application. The aforementioned content has the answer to all of these questions. You can follow and leverage this information.
