What to gather before you give notice for a court marriage — and the small mistakes that most often cause delays.
Reviewed by K K Saxena Associate · Last updated 17 September 2026
Before you give notice for a court marriage, it helps to have your documents in order. This checklist covers what is typically asked for — your specific Marriage Officer's office may have minor variations, which we confirm before you apply.
A PAN card, passport, or birth certificate for both parties, showing date of birth clearly.
A recent utility bill, passport, Aadhaar or similar document for both parties, matching the district of application.
Recent photographs of both parties, typically two to four copies each.
A sworn statement confirming age, marital status, and that the parties are not within a prohibited degree of relationship.
Where either party was previously married, proof that the earlier marriage has legally ended.
Identity proof for the three witnesses who will be present at solemnisation.
Document requirements can differ slightly between Marriage Officers' offices, and names, spellings or addresses that don't match exactly across documents are one of the most common causes of delay. We review your documents before you submit anything. [Confirm the current, office-specific list before filing]
For the full process, see our court marriage page.
This is a common issue and can usually be resolved with a supporting affidavit, but it's best flagged and fixed before you file rather than after an objection or query is raised.
No, typically three witnesses attend for the marriage overall, though requirements can vary by office.
Send us a list of what you have and we'll flag anything missing before you apply.