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Complete documents checklist for Court Marriage in Delhi under Special Marriage Act 1954. Aadhaar, PAN, age proof, photographs, affidavits, and witnesses — all in detailed format, including special documents for NRI couples and divorcees.
All these documents are required separately for each partner:
Identity & Age Proof
Aadhaar Card — original + 2 photocopies. The address must be in Delhi for Delhi jurisdiction.
PAN Card — original + 2 photocopies. The names should match the Aadhaar exactly.
Date of Birth Proof — any one of: Class 10 certificate, birth certificate (issued by the municipality), passport, or school leaving certificate.
Age Verification: Groom must be 21+ and bride must be 18+ as required under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
Address Proof (Delhi)
Voter ID Card — the most preferred option
Driving Licence — Delhi-issued
Electricity Bill / Water Bill / Gas Connection — within the last 3 months
Bank Passbook — with recent entries
Rent Agreement — registered and at least 1 month old (for outstation residents who have recently moved to Delhi)
Note: At least one partner's Delhi address proof is mandatory for Delhi court jurisdiction.
Photographs
Passport-size photographs — 6 to 8 copies for each partner
Colour photos with a plain white background
Recent (taken within the last 6 months)
Both ears visible, no sunglasses, no headwear (except religious)
Joint photographs (couple together) — 4 copies
Delhi Civil Lines Certificate Compulsory Marriage Act formatMaharashtra Form E Multi-state recognition format
Witness Documents
Court marriage requires 3 witnesses — they must be arranged by the couple (typically a family member, friend, or colleague). For each witness:
Aadhaar Card — original + photocopy
PAN Card — original + photocopy
2 passport-size photographs
Witnesses must be present in person to sign the declaration
Note: We handle only the documentation and the legal procedure. Witnesses must be arranged by the couple. For details, see our Court Marriage Process Guide.
Affidavits — What Is Required
Court marriage requires 3 affidavits to be drafted (our team prepares these for you):
Marital Status Affidavit — confirming that both partners are unmarried (or legally divorced/widowed)
Age Affidavit — confirming that both partners meet the minimum age requirements
Address Affidavit — confirming Delhi residence for jurisdiction purposes
Affidavits are notarised on stamp paper (₹10–₹50). We provide ready formats — the couple simply signs in front of the notary.
Special Cases — Additional Documents
1. Divorcee Couples
Final Divorce Decree — court-issued, original + certified copy
Mutual Consent Order (if applicable)
The decree should be at least 30 days old (appeal period over)
The Special Marriage Act, 1954 applies (not Arya Samaj). Same documents as a standard court marriage. Religious conversion is not mandatory — both partners can retain their respective religions. Read more: Inter-Caste Love Marriage Delhi.
Common Document Mistakes — Avoid These
Name Mismatch: "Rajesh Kumar" on Aadhaar versus "R Kumar" on PAN — this can cause rejection. Update your Aadhaar or PAN beforehand to make the names match.
Old Photos: Photographs older than 2 years are not accepted. Use recent photographs.
Outdated Address: If your Voter ID address is not in Delhi but you want to register here, this becomes an issue. The solution is to use a rent agreement or electricity bill as proof.
Missing Witness Documents: Both Aadhaar and PAN are mandatory for every witness.
Foreign Documents Without Apostille: NRI couples cannot skip the apostille or embassy attestation.
Confused about the documents? We send checklists on WhatsApp. Get the exact documents list for your case — within 5 minutes.
