How get married under the Special Marriage Act

A clear guide to marrying through the Special Marriage Act.

Transcript

00:00So, you've fallen for someone your family doesn't approve of.

00:03Maybe a different religion, a different caste or even different backgrounds.

00:07What can you do? Here's your simple guide.

00:10Your answer is court marriage or the special marriage act.

00:13And here's how it works.

00:19First things first, are you both of legal age?

00:22It must be 18 for women and 21 for men.

00:25If yes, you gather your documents, your proof of age, your proof of residence

00:29and a statement declaring that you are mentally sound and not already married.

00:34The forms are usually available online.

00:37If you're divorced, bring the court's final divorce decree.

00:40Next, find your district's marriage registration office either online or visit in person.

00:46Fill out the forms and submit your marriage notice there.

00:50This kickstarts a 30-day waiting period.

00:52Why 30 days?

00:54This gives people time to object.

00:56The notice will be on the notice board of the MRO.

01:00But only objections are on specific grounds.

01:03If you're underage, there is a problem with mental incapacity.

01:07If you're already married or a close family relation.

01:11Remember, any other objection, including religious or caste differences,

01:15even if it's from your own parents, is not a valid objection.

01:18And if interference or threats happen, you can ask the police and the courts for protection.

01:24But what happens if your application gets rejected by the registration officer?

01:29You can challenge this in court within a 30-day period.

01:32And once cleared, you schedule your marriage registration.

01:36On that day, you will need three witnesses.

01:39They can be friends or family or colleagues with their IDs.

01:42Remember, parents are not mandatory as witnesses,

01:45but are encouraged to be there in some states.

01:49So you sign the register, get your marriage certificate,

01:51and voila, you're officially married.

01:53Stay informed, stay protected.