Complete Guide to Court Marriage Process in 2025

Are you confused about how to complete a legal marriage in India without a religious ceremony? In India, many couples face this challenge when thinking of doing a court marriage. But the court marriage process could be overwhelming especially if you have no idea how to navigate through the maze of legal requirements of court marriage in India, from understanding the court marriage rules to collecting and preparing all the necessary court marriage documents.

If you are also thinking of court marriage kaise kare, or if you have questions like what are the important steps of court marriage? Then you are at the right doorstep. YourDoorStep is India’s one of the best and trusted legal document services providers and has been providing legal document services for more than a decade. We at YourDoorStep have nothing more to say about the work we do as our clients’ reviews speak for us.

The court marriage process in India is carried out under the Special Marriage Act of 1954 and is one of the most simple, effective and convenient ways to get legally married in India. Now if you are unsure about the court marriage age or the court marriage process age limit, or if you want to know about the location of the court marriage center as well as the option for online application from court marriage, I, your friend, have got you covered.

In this article, I will not only walk you through the court marriage procedure in India, but I’ll also explain what is the new rule of court marriage in India, talk about what are two types of court marriage, as well as answer some common questions that people usually ask such as do we need parents of court marriage?

Let YourDoorStep be your guide to the court marriage procedure as well as help you locate the court marriage centre in your locality.

What Is the Court Marriage Process?

The court marriage process is a legal and effective way to get married without having to go through any religious ceremony or rituals under the Special Marriage Act of 1954. This special marriage act allows two people from different castes, religions, or even nationalities to legally get married without any difficulties.

In the court marriage procedure in India, both parties are required to sign a marriage contract along with the three witnesses who can state that they saw the marriage in the presence of a marriage officer. This court marriage procedure makes sure that a marriage is valid and that both parties have given their free consent to get married of their free will.

Who Can Get Married Through Court Marriage?

Let’s understand the eligibility criteria for the court marriage process in India:

Age Limit: As per Indian law, the groom must be 21 years old and the bride must be at least 18 years old to legally marry. This is known as the court marriage process age limit.

Consent: Both the partners or parties must sign the marriage certificate of their free will and with their free consent and must be capable of giving consent.

Who Can Get Married Through Court Marriage?

Marital Status: Neither of the parties should already be married. In case, someone is divorced or widowed, they must provide the marriage officer with proper documents supporting their cause such as a divorce decree or a death certificate. Not having proper documentation in such cases may result in delays or rejection, so it’s best to prepare the right set of documents before starting the court marriage procedure.

Prohibited Relationships: The couple should not be related in a way that is legally forbidden.

These are some of the basic court marriage rules that ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria and are legally valid to get married in India as per Indian law.

Court Marriage Documents Required for Court Marriage Process

Preparing the right set of documents is one of the most important parts of getting married through the court marriage process. Here’s the list of the court marriage documents required for the court marriage procedure in India:

Court Marriage Document For the Bride and Groom

Marriage Application Form: A marriage application form is the first document that both you and your partner will require. This marriage application form must be signed by both partners.

Proof of Age: The next document you will require is proof of your age such as your birth certificate or your 10th marksheet (SSL Book).

Proof of Residence: Next, you will require proof of your current residence address such as an Aadhar card, Voter ID, Driving License, Ration Card or any other government-issued address proof.

Court Marriage Document For the Bride and Groom

Affidavit: Both partners are required to provide an affidavit stating their marital status (single, divorced or widowed), with their date of birth and that they are not related under the law.

Passport Size Photographs: Both partners are required to provide two recently clicked passport-size photos.

Additional Documents: Additional document is required in cases if one of the partners is divorced or a widow/widower. This additional document could be a divorce decree or a death certificate of the previous spouse.

Court Marriage Documents For the Witnesses

Identification Proof: Their Aadhar Card, PAN Card, Driving License, Voter ID or any other government-issued ID.

Document Requirements for Witnesses in Court Marriage

Photograph: One recently clicked passport-size photograph is usually needed.

Court Marriage Documents For Foreign Nationals

In case one of the partners is a foreigner (from a different country), the following additional documents are required to complete the court marriage process in India:

Passport Copy with Valid Visa: Make sure to provide a clear copy of the passport with a current valid visa.

Proof of Stay in India: You will also require proof or evidence that the foreigner has stayed in India for more than 30 days to be eligible for the court marriage process in India. This could be done with residence proof or a report from the local police.

No Objection Certificate (NOC) or Marital Status Certificate: You will also require a No Objection Certificate or Marital Status Certificate to meet the eligibility criteria when marrying a foreigner. These documents are provided by the relevant embassy or consulate.

Steps of Court Marriage: What Are the Steps of Court Marriage?

Here’s the step-by-step court marriage process to help you easily follow the entire process of court marriage in India:

Notice of Intended Marriage

The first step is to submit a notice of intended marriage to your local Marriage Registrar. This notice serves as a formal declaration of your plan to marry. But you still require to meet the eligibility criteria to get married so make sure one of the partners has lived in the district for at least 30 days before giving the marriage intended notice to the marriage registrar.

Publishing the Notice

After you have successfully served the eligibility criteria and submitted the notice, the marriage registrar will publish your notice in the office. This publication is done by displaying the notice at the court marriage center so that in case anyone who has a legal reason to object to the marriage can come forward.

Objections Period

The objection period is 30 days after the notice is published. In case someone objects to the marriage with a valid reason or with legal or valid proof, the Marriage Officer can stop the court marriage procedure. But within 30 days, if there is no valid objection to the marriage, the process will continue.

Declaration by Parties and Witnesses

Both parties are required to sign the marriage application form in front of the Marriage Registrar Officer along with the three witnesses before the actual marriage ceremony. This process is important because it shows that everyone present in the marriage registrar’s office agrees and witnesses the marriage voluntarily.

Solemnization of Marriage

Solemnization is the act of performing a formal ceremony, especially for a marriage. Solemnization of marriage is an act of performing a formal ceremony and is usually used for marriage. This solemnization of marriage can be done either at the court marriage center or another location approved by the Marriage Registrar or other concerned authority.

You can change or choose a different venue for the solemnization of marriage as per your wish or convenience. Just note that choosing an alternate location might cause you an extra fee.

Issuance of Marriage Certificate

After the solemnization of the marriage is done the Marriage Registrar will record your marriage in the official register and issue a marriage certificate as proof of your legal marriage. This marriage certificate is proof that you are legally married and will make sure that your marriage is legally recognised by the government authorities and institutions.

By following these simple and easy steps, you can easily complete the court marriage process in India without facing any problems.

Court Marriage Center: The Place Where You Register Your Court Marriage

The court marriage center is the place where you complete most of your court marriage formalities. The court marriage center is usually located at the local Marriage Registrar’s office or you can also search online to locate the one in your locality.

The court marriage center is the place where you have to submit the required documents, have your notice published, and complete the final registration court marriage procedure. If you have any questions related to court marriage registrations or the court marriage process, you can visit any court marriage center in your locality and get answers to your questions.

Online Application for Court Marriage Process

Many states in India provide online services that you can use for an online application for court marriage. The online court marriage application forms allow you to fill out the marriage form, and upload your court marriage documents online, saving you valuable time and effort.

Once your online application is complete and you have successfully submitted your online application for court marriage, you will still be required to visit the court marriage center for the final steps such as the declaration and solemnization of court marriage.

New Rule of Court Marriage in India

People often enquire about what is the new rule of court marriage in India. Recently, in India, there have been some updates in the court marriage registration to make the court marriage process even more convenient and easier.

The new rule of court marriage in India has increased the use of online applications and sped up the online court marriage registration process as well as reduced the errors in document submission. The new rules have not only made the court marriage registration process easier but it also provides clearer and easy-to-understand guidelines on document verification. This helps make the entire process more transparent and user-friendly.

Types of Court Marriage in India

There are two types of court marriage in India and for people wondering what are the two types of court marriage in India? You may stop wondering about the two types of court marriage or you can also say the two main methods to complete a court marriage in India are:

Traditional Court Marriage: In the traditional court marriage, you will have to visit the Marriage Registrar’s office in person, submit your marriage application forms & documents, and follow through all the steps necessary to complete the court marriage process at a court marriage center.

Online Court Marriage Application: In the online court marriage application, you start by filling out and submitting your application and documents online. Even so, you will still be required to visit the court marriage center for various steps such as the final solemnization of marriage.

These are the two types of court marriage and both are legally valid in India. You can follow or choose the method more convenient to you.

Do We Need Parents for Court Marriage?

The most common question that many applicants applying for court marriage ask is whether we need parents for court marriage. Legally, the presence of parents at the time of a court marriage is not required. If you are of legal age then you can do a court marriage without your parents. As per the Indian marriage law, only the signatures of the bride and groom are required along with the three witnesses. While having your parents for a court marriage is not legally valid, many couples find it comfortable having their parents present on this important and special day of their new married life.

Court Marriage Age and Why It Matters

Having a clear understanding of the court marriage age is important to smoothly follow the court marriage procedure in India. As per the law, the legal age of the groom is 21 years old and the legal age for the bride is 18 years old.

This is the legal age requirement for a court marriage in India. This legal age is the minimum requirement that ensures that both individuals are mature enough to take on the responsibilities of a marriage. Failing to meet the eligible age requirement can lead to delays, rejection and even legal complications.

Court Marriage Kaise Kare: A Quick Recap of the Court Marriage Process

For those who ask court marriage kaise kare, here is a quick recap in simple terms:

Prepare Your Documents: Collect or prepare all the necessary court marriage documents required for court marriage such as your age proof, address proof, affidavits, and photographs.

Submit the Notice: Visit the marriage registrar’s office in your locality or your local court marriage center and submit a notice of intended marriage.

Wait for the Objection Period: Wait for the objection period to get over after the notice is published. The notice period is 30 days and anyone with legal or valid proof can object to the marriage within the 30-day time or objection period.

Sign the Declaration: Once the objection period is over, both the parties and the three witnesses will sign the application in front of the Marriage Registrar’s Officer.

Solemnize Your Marriage: Once everything is done, the Marriage Registrar will then conduct the ceremony at the court marriage center or any other venue approved by the concerned authority.

Receive Your Certificate: After the solemnised ceremony, your marriage will be recorded in the official register and you will be legally married. After that, you will receive your marriage certificate which will be proof of your legal marriage.

Final Thoughts

This is it guys, this is all you need to know when planning to do a court marriage in India. By following the court marriage rules, and step-by-step process, and preparing the right document, you can get married easily and legally as well as make sure that your marriage is legally recognised.

Whether you choose the traditional way or opt for the online application for court marriage, the steps remain clear and easy to follow. I hope you find this article informative and helpful and in case you still find it difficult to navigate through the court marriage procedure, you can always get assistance from the field of expert in this case “YourDoorStep”.