Court Marriage Process In India - Fees, Documents Required and Process

In India, a court marriage means a marriage solemnised under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 (‘Act’). A couple belonging to any caste, religion or nationality can solemnise the court marriage in the presence of a marriage officer and three witnesses. The marriage officer is usually the Sub-Registrar appointed under the Act.
Documents Required for Court Marriage in India
The  documents required  to be submitted by the couple along with the court marriage application  are as follows:
Separate affidavits from the bride and bridegroom containing the following details:
Date of birth
Marital status – widower/unmarried/divorcee
Affirmation that the couple are not related to one another within the degree of prohibited relationship
Passport-size photos of the bride and bridegroom
Residential proof of the bride and bridegroom 
Proof of date of birth of the bride and bridegroom 
Copy of the notice of the intended marriage signed by the couple
Copy of divorce order, in the case of a divorcee and death certificate of a spouse, in case of a widower/widow
The documents required to be submitted by all the witnesses are as follows:
Passport size photo
Copy of PAN card
Copy of identity proof
Procedure for Court Marriage in India
Step 1- Notice of marriage
The parties (bride and the bridegroom) must give the court marriage application form, i.e. notice of the intended marriage, to the marriage officer. The notice of the intended marriage should be given as prescribed in the second schedule of the Act before 30 days of the intended marriage date. It should be given to the marriage officer in whose area either party to the marriage has continuously lived for 30 days or more.
Step 2 - Publication of the notice
The marriage officer will publish the notice of the intended marriage submitted by the parties by affixing it in a conspicuous place in the office of the marriage officer. After it is published, any person can object to the marriage within 30 days of its publication. If there is no objection, the marriage officer will perform the marriage after the expiry of 30 days of the notice publication.
Step 3 - Objection to marriage, if any
Anybody can object to the court marriage within 30 days of the publication of the notice of the intended marriage. A person can submit an objection for marriage to the marriage officer on the grounds that the marriage violates any conditions required for the court marriage. However, the objection to the marriage should be on a legal basis and not on a personal basis. The marriage officer must enquire about the objection within 30 days of the receipt of the objection. After enquiring about the objection, the marriage officer can solemnise the marriage when it does not violate any conditions for marriage.
Step 4 - Declaration by parties and witnesses
When there is no objection to the marriage or the marriage officer dismisses the objection, the parties must appear before the marriage officer and submit a declaration. The parties to the marriage and three witnesses are required to submit the declaration as prescribed in the third schedule of the Act in the presence of the marriage officer. The marriage officer will also countersign the declaration. 
Step 5 – Place of marriage
The marriage can take place at the office of the marriage officer or another place within a reasonable distance which the parties choose. If the parties select another place to solemnise the marriage, they must pay the additional fees as prescribed. The marriage can be solemnised in any form the parties choose to adopt.
Step 6 - Certificate of marriage
The marriage officer will give the marriage certificate after solemnising the marriage. Both the parties to the marriage and three witnesses must sign the marriage certificate. The marriage certificate is conclusive evidence of the marriage. The marriage officer will enter the details of the marriage in the marriage certificate book. 
Court Marriage Fee
The parties should pay the court marriage fee to the office of the marriage officer. The court marriage fee differs from state to state. Generally ,court marriage fees range between Rs.500 to Rs.1,000.