How to Get Court Marriage

Under the Special Marriage Act, the timeline is 45-50 days because of the mandatory 30-day notice period. Under the Hindu Marriage Act (post-ceremony registration), it typically takes 15-25 working days. Anyone promising under 30 days for SMA or under 7 days for HMA is misrepresenting the process — these durations are statutory.

Yes, only under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 — Section 5 mandates a 30-day public notice. No court in India can waive this period. If urgency is genuine (e.g., approaching wedding visa deadline), some couples opt for the Hindu Marriage Act registration after a quick religious ceremony, which has no statutory waiting period.

Court marriage is the legal registration of a marriage by a Marriage Officer (typically a District Magistrate or SDM) under either the Special Marriage Act, 1954 or the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. Any two adults — Indian citizens or NRIs — who are not within prohibited relationships and are mentally competent can opt for it. The groom must be 21+ and the bride 18+ at the time of registration.

The Special Marriage Act, 1954 is a secular law for any two adults regardless of faith — ideal for inter-faith, inter-caste, and purely civil marriages. It requires a 30-day public notice. The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 applies to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists who have already had a religious ceremony, and registers that ceremony retrospectively (no 30-day notice).

Both the Special Marriage Act and the Hindu Marriage Act require three witnesses. Each must be 21+, must personally know the couple, and must carry their original Aadhaar or Voter ID plus two passport-size photographs. All three witnesses must be physically present at the Marriage Officer's office on the registration day.

Standard documents for each partner: Aadhaar Card (with current address), age proof (birth certificate or 10th board mark sheet or passport), address proof (utility bill, rental agreement, or Aadhaar), 6 passport-size photographs, PAN card, and a joint affidavit on ₹100 stamp paper. Three witnesses bring their own Aadhaar plus 2 photos each.

The marriage certificate is issued by the Marriage Officer on the day of solemnisation under the Special Marriage Act. Under the Hindu Marriage Act, the certificate is typically issued within 7-15 days of application. Additional certified copies cost ₹100 each. Lost certificates can be reissued by applying at the same court's record room.

Some preliminary forms can be downloaded from the Delhi District Courts portal. However, the final notice filing, witness verification, and solemnisation must be done in person — Indian law currently does not permit fully online court marriage. Video-witness participation is allowed only in rare hardship cases approved by the District Judge.

Notice filing usually requires in-person submission of Form III with documents at the Marriage Officer's office. Some courts have introduced online slot booking, but most still operate counter-based queue tokens. After notice + 30-day wait (SMA only), the Marriage Officer schedules the solemnisation date. Working with a marriage advocate streamlines all booking steps.

The Sub-Divisional Magistrate is a senior government officer (typically IAS or DANICS) designated as the Marriage Officer for their sub-division. The SDM personally signs the marriage register and certificate. SDMs handle Hindu Marriage Act registrations primarily; Special Marriage Act cases are at District Courts.

Form III is the prescribed Application for Marriage Registration / Notice of Intended Marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. It is available free at the Marriage Officer's office, downloadable from the Delhi District Courts portal, or your marriage advocate provides a pre-filled version. Both parties must sign Form III in the presence of the Marriage Officer.

A notarised affidavit is a sworn declaration on stamp paper (₹100) signed by you and attested by a licensed notary public. For court marriage, both parties prepare a joint affidavit declaring full names, ages, current marital status, addresses and willingness. Notaries are available near every court complex — turnaround is 30-45 minutes.