What is considered as a valid Marriage Certificate

R

Rajesh Paul

Registered Users (C)
Married CP folks,

Are there any guidlines as to what is considered as a valid marriage certificate for the purpose of CP ?

My specific question is regarding relegious marriages (if you don;t have a "registered" marriage). The loop hole that most of the people I know used to use was getting an "agreement" counter signed by the sub registrar. But seems, in a recent notification, the Indian gov has asked the registrars not to issue such documents as they are legally not valid. So, if we have only a relegious marriage, what is the "legally" valid MC and how do we get it ?

Thanks in advance
 
A registered Municipal Doc is what has been considered a Marriage Cert.

It could be signed by some Govt Officer- Megistrate mostly.

I believe afidavits from the Relgious Priest that he/she married you two on specific date with other info that uniquely identifies you like Parents Name, DOB, Address will also be constituted as a valid marraige certificate. Make sure you also take a few witness certificate with same info from some people of good social standing including your parents. It would be good to get it notorised/on stamp paper
 
Thanks much Patta

But how do we get this muncipal document ? They seem to have processes for birth and death, but not marriage... or maybe it is just the goon my folks asked.

Regarding the affidavit, do all these people sign the same document ? Or should we get separate ones - one from the priest, one from parents (on both sides), one or more from people of good standing, etc.

Thanks again
 
Rajesh.. If you are in India

Take the marriage video, marriage photographs, wedding card and if you got married in a marriage hall then a certificate from the marriage hall, both of your parents and 4 additional witnesses to your local(check your local registrar office based on your home address)Registrar of Marriages office and they will give it to you in 5 days.
 
Dandelion

That is where the problem is. Seems as per the new notification (this came from the registrars office), the registrar is supposed to issue marriage certificates only if the marriage was conducted under the special marriages act, i.e., go through the process of a "registered" marriage. For this you have to file at the office atleast one month in advance, etc. Reportedly, this is based on a high court notification (in Kerala). This is kind of on lines with how it is done in US, except that the time period is much shorter here. Relegious ceremonies are just that, a ceremony. What I am confused about is in India, relegious marriages have their own recognition, as per the different marriage acts. So for those, how do we get a legally valid marriage certificate (or atleast on the consulate would recognise), given that the registrar cannot issue one for these. These last minute half baked gov notifications are driving me crazy :-(
 
Rajesh - my apologies - Man can life be ever easier.

Looks like a big web of documents.. Well how about money ? can it talk ?
 
owww ! hold on other CP\'ers before bashing me out as "People like You" a cause of corrupt

I did not really meant to advocate the idea of breeding corruption.
 
Paisa... the final answer to all our woes :-)

Yeah. Seems this notification came from the HC because of such reasons, essentially fraudulently obtained MCs for registrars.... but I am pretty sure there must be some way... I mean most marriages in India are just relegious marriages. I checked with a lawyer in India. He says for legal purposes, just having a relegious ceremony and living together supported with evidence like you suggested is considered valid enough (although apparently not for issueing a "marriage certificate"). But he has no idea what the consulate will accept. Wonder if I should write to the consulate, but seeing their level of response, I am pretty sure, it will be of now worth.

Help... somebody....
 
Thanks Patta, Dandelion

I guess I\'ll try as far as possible to get something from the registrar / magistrate / muncipality, but if nothing is possible, I\'ll take all the things you mentioned (probably skip the vedio initially as we are not allowed to carry that) including as many affidavits as possible. Patta, do you feel we need any affidavit from myself/spouse saying I am married to so and so ?
 
Rajesh -

Sworn affidavits from you will not be needed as you will be present to make the claim in person... since you cannot take the priest/parents with you for the interview their statements(affidavits) will do.

Other thing that you might do in addition is get Indian consular office in US modify either one or both of your passports with Spous\'s name...(It is not essential though)
 
I got it from Indian Embassy San Fransisco

I compeleted CP at New delhi in Oct\'01. I did not had the Marriage Certificate issued by Registrar or whoever. I went to Indian Consulate
at San Fransisco and got it in 1 day. All you need is :
- Passport
- If your spouse passport has your name then you don\'t need marriage photos.
- $21

GC
 
Thanx Patta, GC

Probs is I\'m not married as yet and my fiance is in India so I\'ll have to do something there itself. But, yes for others who are already married, the consulate would be avery good option.

Hmmm.... on those lines, will the passport office give a marriage certificate ? Also for changing marital status on passport, what kind of documentation is required ?

Thanx again
 
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