Tamil Nadu Marriage Registration Act

Registration of marriage in the concerned jurisdictional registrar office is now mandatory in accordance with applicable law even if your marriage has been solemnized and got certificate from the church, temple or mosque. The marriage can either be registered under Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 or on special Marriage Act, 1954 or Tamil Nadu Marriage Registration Act  depends upon religious and circumstantial factors. The Supreme Court, in its order in Seema v. Ashwani Kumar AIR 2006 SC 1158 has observed that the effect of non-registration would be that the presumption which is available from registration of marriage would be denied to a person whose marriage is not registered. The Supreme Court of India is of the view that marriages of all persons who are citizens of India belonging to various religions should be made compulsorily registerable in the respective States, where the marriage is solemnized.

Reach your nearest registrar office and submit the completed application form with required documents and fees.
Both, husband and wife should be present before registrar (Prior appointment is needed) - Both have to sign the Register in front of the Registrar in the office.

• Wedding Invitation (or) 
• Marriage hall bill/ Certificate from VAO (or)
• Temple/ Church/Mosque Marriage Receipts (or)
• Any other proof of marriage solemnization

• Employee ID Card (or) 
• Ration Card (or)
• Driving License (or)
• Passport or Visa

• Birth Certificate (or) 
• School/College Certificate (or)
• Passport or Visa

• Id card for minimum two witness to be produced
• In addition to the above memorandum in duplicate with 4 passport size photograph for bride and 4 passport size photograph for bridegroom should be submitted.

• Marriage certificate shall be valid forever until decree of divorce from court of law.

• Marriages solemnized under Hindu customs/ non-customary
• Bridegroom/Bride should have completed 21/18 years respectively
• Both of them should be Hindus, Buddhist or Sikhs
• Anyone of the following place should fall within the jurisdiction of the Registering officer
• a) Residence of bride. b) Residence of bridegroom. c) Solemnization place.

• Marriages solemnized under any personal law can be registered.
• Both of them should be the same religion irrespective of caste
• Bridegroom/Bride should have completed 21/18 years respectively
• It can be registered within 90 days without fine and within 90-150 days with fine. After that it can't be registered.
• Solemnization place should fall within the jurisdiction of the Registering officer

• Marriages solemnized before the Registering officer or in any other form. Special Marriage Act is related for all citizens of India irrespective of their religion.
• Both the Bridegroom /Bride should have completed 21 years at the time of registration.
• Anyone of the following place should fall within the jurisdiction of the Registering officer
• Residence of bride. b) Residence of bridegroom. c) Solemnization place.
  Notice of intended marriages:

  Application along with Notice of intended marriages should be given in triplicate to the jurisdictional Sub Registrar for registration and the notices will be displayed in the Sub Registrar Offices where bride and bridegroom have permanent residence. No need of personnel appearance of bride and bridegroom is required for giving notice.

  If no objection for the marriage is received within 30 days from the notice, marriage will be solemnized /registered and at that time the bride and bridegroom must present with three witnesses. Marriages shall be solemnized/ registered within 3 months from the date of Notice. Otherwise fresh notice should be given.

Extracts of Indian Christian Marriages registered under the Indian Christian Marriages Act, by the licensee under the act or by Priests are received and the extracts are given to the O/o the Inspector General of Registration,100,Santhome High Road,Chennai 28.

• In case, it is needed to prove that you are legally married to someone, the marriage certificate is legal proof of marriage.
• Helps in claiming Bank deposits or Life Insurance Benefits in case of death of deposited or Insurer dies without making the nomination.
• The marriage registration certificate is useful in getting marriage benefits and family card from the government, Visa for Wife/Husband etc.

Provides valuable Evidence of Marriage Giving further insight to in this subject Registration Boss- Legal Expert says, “The Tamil Nadu registration department has brought about changes in the procedure for marriage registrations exempting the requirement of the presence of the couple's parents, which has been replaced by witnesses. The development comes in the wake of a new circular issued by inspector general of registration which said marriages must be registered at the sub-registrar office based on the documents furnished by the couple to be married and witnesses, besides verification of names and address in the application form. The presence of parents as mentioned in the previous circular drew objections. The fresh circular was meant to clear the ambiguity,". For any assistance required to prepare a memorandum for registering a marriage, you may contact to our Registration Boss…