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How to apply for marriage certificate (Hindu/Special Marriage Act)

Apply for marriage certificate at SDM / Sub-Registrar under Hindu Marriage Act (registration of solemnised marriage) or Special Marriage Act (court marriage).

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—how-to-apply:marriage-certificate [2026/05/05 04:27] (current) – created - external edit 127.0.0.1
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 +{{htmlmetatags>
 +metatag-keywords=(apply marriage certificate, marriage registration, hindu marriage act, special marriage act, court marriage certificate)
 +metatag-description=(Apply for marriage certificate at SDM / Sub-Registrar under Hindu Marriage Act (registration of solemnised marriage) or Special Marriage Act (court marriage).)
 +}}
 +
 +====== How to apply for marriage certificate (Hindu/Special Marriage Act) ======
 +{{:social:auto:how-to-apply-marriage-certificate.png?direct&1200 |How to apply for marriage certificate (Hindu/Special Marriage Act) — RTI Wiki}}
 +
 +<WRAP info>
 +**Quick answer:** Marriage registration is **mandatory in India** — Supreme Court direction in *Seema vs Ashwani Kumar (2006)*. Two routes: **(1) Hindu Marriage Act 1955** — register an already-solemnised Hindu marriage (15-day notice in some states, instant in others); **(2) Special Marriage Act 1954** — court marriage with **30-day public notice + 30-day waiting**. Fee Rs 100–200.
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +===== Who can apply (eligibility) =====
 +  * Either spouse 21+ (men) / 18+ (women)
 +  * Not within prohibited degrees of relationship
 +  * Of sound mind, capable of consent
 +  * Domicile / ordinarily resident in district where applying
 +  * Hindu Marriage Act: both Hindu/Sikh/Jain/Buddhist · SMA: any religion or inter-faith
 +
 +===== Step-by-step process =====
 +  - **Choose your route** — HMA: post-marriage registration of solemnised Hindu marriage. SMA: court marriage with 30-day notice — works for inter-faith / inter-caste / civil ceremony.
 +  - **Apply at SDM / Sub-Registrar** — In-person or online via state e-District (Delhi: edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in · MH: igrmaharashtra.gov.in · Online states: ~25/28).
 +  - **Submit Form A (HMA) or Form B (SMA)** — Filled jointly + signed by both spouses + 3 witnesses with Aadhaar.
 +  - **SMA: 30-day public notice** — Notice posted at SMR office for 30 days for objections. After period, marriage solemnised.
 +  - **Submit supporting docs** — Birth proof, Aadhaar, address proof, marriage card / wedding photos (HMA), affidavits.
 +  - **Verification by SMR/SDM** — Confirms identity + age + voluntary consent. May call witnesses.
 +  - **Marriage certificate issued** — Same day for HMA registration; on solemnisation date for SMA. Two original signed copies.
 +
 +===== Where to apply, fee, and timeline =====
 +  * **Online portal:** [[https://edistrict.gov.in|State e-District / Sub-Registrar]]
 +  * **Offline:** Sub-Registrar of Marriages (SMR) office in your district. SDM in some states. Avoid agents — straightforward process.
 +  * **Fee:** **HMA registration: Rs 100–200** · **SMA: Rs 150 (notice) + Rs 100 (cert)** · Court marriage venue Rs 500 if at registrar; free if at home
 +  * **Timeline:** **HMA: 1–15 days** (state varies) · **SMA: 60 days** (30 notice + 30 wait + 1-day solemnisation)
 +
 +===== What documents to keep ready =====
 +See our complete checklist: [[:documents:marriage-certificate|Documents required for marriage certificate]] — covers mandatory + optional + size/format specs.
 +
 +===== Common issues + how to handle =====
 +  * **Wrong notice address** — HMA needs marriage venue OR either spouse's residence. SMA needs both spouses' residence.
 +  * **Inter-faith marriage objection** — SMR has discretion to dismiss frivolous objections; police protection available.
 +  * **Witness Aadhaar mismatch** — must be Aadhaar-verified Indian citizens; foreign witnesses not accepted.
 +  * **Marriage 5+ years ago — never registered** — affidavit + wedding photos + invitation card + witness testimony. SDM can register under HMA retroactively.
 +
 +===== If your application is delayed or rejected — file an RTI =====
 +
 +Most "delays" or "rejections" clear within 7-15 days of an RTI being filed. Use this 5-question template:
 +
 +<code>
 +1. Status of my application no. _____ dated _____ as on date.
 +2. The name + designation of the dealing officer assigned to my file.
 +3. The reasons for delay beyond the statutory timeline.
 +4. Copy of any noting / movement of my file in the past 30 days.
 +5. The likely date of issuance of my certificate / approval.
 +</code>
 +
 +**Auto-fill the PIO details + your case:** [[:citizen-rti-playbook|Open the RTI Drafter →]]
 +
 +**Or browse state-wise scheme procedures:** [[:scheme-state:marriage-certificate:start|All state portals + RTI templates]]
 +
 +===== Frequently asked questions =====
 +==== Is registration mandatory? ====
 +Yes — SC 2006 direction. Most states have made it law. Without certificate: no spouse Aadhaar update, no joint property, no spouse passport.
 +
 +==== SMA notice — can my parents object? ====
 +Yes — but objections must be on legal grounds (age, prohibited relationship, existing marriage). Caste/religion are NOT legal grounds.
 +
 +==== Same-sex marriage? ====
 +SC declined Special Marriage Act extension to same-sex couples (Supriyo vs %%UoI%%, 2023). Civil partnership not recognised. Some states may have local provisions.
 +
 +==== NRI marriage abroad — register in India? ====
 +Yes — under Foreign Marriage Act 1969 at Indian embassy + register in India for spouse Aadhaar/visa.
 +
 +==== Application delayed beyond 30 days? ====
 +File RTI to SMR + SDM. Use our [[:citizen-rti-playbook|RTI Playbook]] for marriage cert delays.
 +
 +===== Summary + what to do next =====
 +
 +<WRAP center round tip 90%>
 +**Bottom line:** Apply at **State e-District / Sub-Registrar** (https://edistrict.gov.in). Fee: **HMA registration: Rs 100–200** · **SMA: Rs 150 (notice) + Rs 100 (cert)** · Court marriage venue Rs 500 if at registrar; free if at home. Timeline: **HMA: 1–15 days** (state varies) · **SMA: 60 days** (30 notice + 30 wait + 1-day solemnisation). If delayed beyond timeline, file an RTI — most cases clear within 15 days.
 +
 +  * **Start your application:** [[https://edistrict.gov.in|State e-District / Sub-Registrar]]
 +  * **Document checklist first:** [[:documents:marriage-certificate|Required documents]]
 +  * **If stuck — RTI Drafter:** [[:citizen-rti-playbook|File an RTI in 5 minutes]]
 +  * **Talk to other citizens:** [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/awaaz-rti.html|AwaazRTI community]]
 +  * **Browse all how-to-apply guides:** [[:how-to-apply:start|All 25 application guides]]
 +</WRAP>
 +
 +===== Related reading =====
 +  * [[:check-status:start|How to check status — 25 high-traffic services]]
 +  * [[:documents:start|Documents required — 30 checklists]]
 +  * [[:state-rti-portals-directory|All state RTI portals]]
 +  * [[:citizen-rti-playbook|Full RTI Playbook — 100+ scenarios]]
 +
 +===== Sources =====
 +  * Official portal: https://edistrict.gov.in
 +  * Citizen feedback collected via [[https://righttoinformation.wiki/tools/awaaz-rti.html|AwaazRTI]] (composite, identifying details removed).
 +  * Statutory references: see relevant Act sections.
 +
 +//Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.//
 +
 +{{tag>how-to-apply marriage-certificate citizen-services rti-fallback}}