Court marriage December documents updates 2024

For a court marriage in India, both parties must provide several documents to fulfill the legal requirements. Below is a list of the essential documents and their descriptions:

1. *Application Form*
**Description**: A filled application form that needs to be signed by both parties. This form can usually be obtained from the marriage registrar's office.

2. *Proof of Age (Birth Certificate / Passport / SSLC Certificate)*
**Description**: Documents that prove the age of both parties. The minimum legal age for marriage in India is:
21 years for males
18 years for females
Common documents used as proof include the birth certificate, passport, or secondary school leaving certificate (SSLC).

3. *Proof of Address (Aadhaar Card / Voter ID / Passport / Utility Bill)*
**Description**: Documents to verify the current residential address of both parties. These can include:
Aadhar card
Passport
Voter ID
Utility bills (electricity, water, gas)
Ration card

4. *Photographs*
**Description**: Recent passport-sized photographs of both the bride and groom. Typically, 4-6 passport-sized photos are required.

5. *Witnesses*
**Description**: Two witnesses, who should be of sound mind and at least 18 years old. These witnesses need to provide their identification documents (like aadhar card, voter ID, passport) along with a signed statement confirming the marriage.

6. *Affidavit for Marriage*
**Description**: An affidavit stating the couple's marital status (single, divorced, etc.) and that both parties are not related to each other within the prohibited degree of relationship as per the law.

7. *Marriage Invitation Card (Optional)*
**Description**: While not always mandatory, the marriage invitation card can sometimes be used as supplementary proof of marriage intentions or plans.

8. *Divorce Decree (if applicable)*
**Description**: If either party was previously married, a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate of the previous spouse is required to prove the dissolution of the previous marriage or the spouse's death.

9. *Certificate of Conversion (if applicable)*
**Description**: If either party has converted to a different religion before marriage, they must provide the certificate of conversion.

10. *Citizenship Proof (for foreign nationals)*
**Description**: If one or both parties are foreign nationals, they must provide a valid passport, visa, and residence permit in India.

---

Additional Points:
**Marriage under Special Marriage Act**: If the marriage is conducted under the Special Marriage Act, both parties must have resided in India for at least 30 days prior to filing the application.
**Hindu Marriage Act**: If the marriage is conducted under the Hindu Marriage Act, both parties must adhere to the rules of the act, including being Hindu and not closely related.

Once the required documents are submitted, the marriage registrar will process the application, and after a waiting period (typically 30 days), the marriage will be solemnized in front of the registrar and witnesses.