Marriage in India

Not sure if this is the correct forum, but couldn't see where else I could post this, and anyway, what the heck...

A friend of mine (from Israel) wants to know if he can register his marriage here in India. Both he and his wife are Israeli (they had done only a religious wedding - which is normally good enough for most requirements).

Would anyone have any idea on this?

Thanks

Probably not. There is a 30-day notice period required and one of the parties must reside in the catchment area of the register office.

But the first question has to be why in earth would they want to?

I can fully understand someone wanting a religious ceremony in India, but why the registration? Do please ask them, and let us know. If we know the reasoning behind this we may be able to give better advice.

My view is that they will, forever more, make life difficult for themselves when dealing with officials in their own and other countries. Our Special Marriage Act marriage certificate is just typed on a piece of plain paper, apart from a rubber stamp, it doesn't even look official.

If they think there is anything romantic about an Indian marriage registration, then they should think again: there is not. I'll try to find the link to the story of my own marriage, here on IM somewhere in the archives. It was one of the most unromantic things I've ever done.

There are travel agents that arrange marriage packages... so I guess it is possible. But if your friends have already done the religious thing, they probably wouldn't want 90% of the package.

Here's what I posted on my wedding day: I can also compare it to being married by a cattle auctioneer who doesn't stop the auction for your marriage. The registrar was dealing with a heap of stuff like land registration. She barely listened to us at all.

However... she was one of those honest government officers; she would take no money from us, not even a box of sweets

I wish our house registration had fallen in her area!

It can be done although there is a nominal 30 day minimum. Talk to somebody local who can fix you up. I had the registrar come to the wedding which is much better for atmosphere. I got no complaints..

I understood they already had religious wedding in their own country? Did I get the wrong end of that stick?

Got this reply from him:

Thanks. I do understand the biwilderment.... Perhaps this quote will help explain, taken from here. You can share this with your friends if you wish.

(from Wikipedia)
As civil marriage does not exist in Israel, the only institutionalized form of marriage in Israel is the religious one, i.e. a marriage conducted by a cleric. Specifically, marriage of Israeli Jews must be conducted according to Orthodox Jewish halakha. This implies that people who cannot (or do not want to - a.b.) get married according to Jewish law cannot have their union sanctioned. This has led for calls, mostly from the secular segment of the Israeli public, for the institution of civil marriage.

Many secular Israelis travel abroad to have civil marriages, either because they do not believe in the Orthodox view of Judaism or because their union cannot be sanctioned by halakha. These marriages are legally binding in Israel, though not recognized by the rabbinate as Jewish.

OK.

But best try somewhere else, not India. India is a nightmare for anything bureaucratic.

It's ok for me... I'm married to an Indian in India. Even here we've had some departments look at our typed piece of paper and wonder if it is really genuine!

If they have emotional/romantic/religious reasons for doing it in India, then my advise would be to contact one of the agencies that specialises in setting all this up.

No wonder she did not listen to you. Since you said she was utterly honest, her attention must have been undivided over the transactions of all those land registrations. If you know what goes on with land acquisitions in this country...you should be sympathising with her.

Well, I have a clue... scary business .

(What, marriage, or Land registration? I hear someone ask...)

Here is some infor on getting married in India. Pretty much supports what Nick said earlier:

http://www.ausgovindia.com/ndli/GmiI.html

...The Australians apparently issue, on request, the no-imediment certificate, which the Brits and many other countries don't.

Exactly what paperwork you will be required to show depends on the registrar on the day. I really would not rely on it being as easy for two non-residents to register a marriage in India as the Aussie site implies.

Actually, the Special Marriage Act only says that one party should have resided within the jurisdiction of the registrar for 30 days before giving notice

Most interesting, that makes it tons easier for Indo-foren marriages in some cases..