SOLEMNIZATION OF FOREIGN MARRIAGESCentral

Section 14 of The Foreign Marriage Act, 1969

Certificate of marriage.

(1)Whenever a marriage is solemnized under this Act, the Marriage Officer shall enter a certificate thereof in the form specified in the Third Schedule in a book to be kept by him for that purpose and to be called the Marriage Certificate Book, and such certificate shall be signed by the parties to the marriage and the three witnesses.
(2)On a certificate being entered in the Marriage Certificate Book by the Marriage Officer, the certificate shall be deemed to be conclusive evidence of the fact that a marriage under this Act has been solemnized, and that all formalities respecting the residence of the party concerned previous to the marriage and the signatures of witnesses have been complied with.

Summary

The Marriage Officer must record a certificate of the marriage in a specific Marriage Certificate Book.
The certificate uses the exact form provided in the Third Schedule of the Act.
The newly married couple and their three witnesses must all sign this certificate.
Once entered into the book, the certificate serves as conclusive evidence that the marriage legally happened.
It also proves that all previous formalities regarding residence and witness signatures were properly followed.

Practical examples

1Arjun and Priya get married at the Indian Embassy in Berlin. Right after the vows, they sign a document along with three friends. This document is entered into the official Marriage Certificate Book to serve as final proof of their wedding.

2Five years after his marriage in Singapore, a bank questions whether Vikram met the thirty-day residence requirement before his wedding. Vikram presents his marriage certificate, which the law treats as conclusive evidence that his residence formalities were perfectly met.

FAQ

1. Where is the marriage certificate kept?

It is entered into a special record called the Marriage Certificate Book kept by the Marriage Officer.

2. Who needs to sign the marriage certificate?

Both parties to the marriage and the three witnesses must sign it.

3. Can someone later claim that my pre-wedding residence notice was invalid?

No, the certificate acts as conclusive evidence that all residence formalities were properly complied with.

Test yourself

1.Under Section 14 of The Foreign Marriage Act, 1969, what specific record book is used by the Marriage Officer to enter the certificate of a solemnized marriage?

2.Under Section 14 of The Foreign Marriage Act, 1969, whose signatures are mandatory on the marriage certificate?

3.Under Section 14 of The Foreign Marriage Act, 1969, what legal weight does the entry of the certificate hold regarding previous residence formalities?

4.Under Section 14 of The Foreign Marriage Act, 1969, which schedule contains the required form for the certificate of marriage?

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