Marriage Registry in Nigeria has witness a steady increase in the last decade; studies have shown that about 40-50% newly wedded couple had a civil wedding alone this year. People now see the importance of marriage registry – it is recognized by the law and serves as an evidence of a marriage contract between couples.
Today we have three types of marriages acknowledged by law in Nigeria. These are Traditional/customary marriage, Registry and Religious marriage. For the purpose of this article we will be looking at the process and requirement of marriage Registry in Nigeria.
Civil Marriage is conducted in any Federal marriage registry, State and Local government registries throughout the country. All what you need do is to walk into any one closest to you to start the wedding process.
Marriage Registry Processes
Once you are in any marriage registry, you will obtain a form from the registry to indicate your intention to marry. The form is a Notice Form or otherwise called Form A where you and your bride will fill in your personal details including Name, Age, Address, Occupation, Marital status, Consent (minor under 21 years), Signature etc.
You will also need to submit two coloured passport photographs. If your partner is a foreigner then photocopy of international passport showing the data page and the visa page is require. The form is then posted on the Notice Board at the registry for 21 days. The notice is also entered in a book called the Marriage Notice Book; you can check upon your names in the marriage book to be sure it has been entered, but this attracts some little charges.
Ø If you are you looking forward to get married before the 21 days notice of observance, then you have to pay about (10000 – 15000) naira depending on the registry to acquire a special license.
After the end of the 21 days notice, you required to pay a Prescribed Fee (this differs at each registry), the Registrar would issue a Form C
The Swearing In
Before the swearing-in, the couple must have met the criteria stipulated by law to go ahead with the process. Three forms Is given to the couple to fill.
The Affidavit form– This is to indicate that you are more than 21 years, never been married and so on. If divorced, a divorce letter must be presented.
Prohibited Degree Form – This form shows the list of people you are legally allowed to marry or not to marry.
Information Slip – This short slip requires you to provide information that would later be transferred to the wedding certificate e.g Groom’s Fathers name, Bride’s Fathers name, name of witness.
You will then take an oath with the Bible or Koran depending on your beliefs to declare the accuracy of the information provided.
Upon proof that there is no lawful impediment to the proposed marriage, and that the necessary consent, if any, to such marriage has been obtained, the Minister will dispense with the giving of notice, issue the certificate, and grant his/her license, known as Form D, authorizing the celebration of a marriage between the parties named in such license.
The couple then selects a date for the wedding, usually within three months from the date the notice was placed with the Marriage registry.
Wedding Day
On the wedding day, the couple along their family members and friends should arrive promptly to finalize the marriage proceedings because the ceremony is usually not longer than 30 minutes and there are waiting in line to do theirs. The officiating minister will fill up in duplicate a marriage certificate with the particulars required by Form E, and enter in the counterfoil the number of the certificate, the date of the marriage, names of the parties, and the names of the witnesses. This is then signed by the couple and then their witness, one is kept in the registry office, one taken to the state office and one is given to the couple for their keeps.
What to Wear
- Wedding dresses and Suits
- Native attire
- Corporate ensemble
- (Please note that short sleeves, shorts and jeans are not allowed)
Expected Expenses
1. Notice form – #7000
2. Prescribe fee – #3000
3. Wedding date fee – #2000(weekdays) #5000(weekends)
4. Wedding ring (2) – depends on couple
5. Wedding dresses – depends on couple
6. Photograph – get any of your relatives to capture the moment on any camera enable device.
7. Some money in an envelope to appreciate the registrars/officiating minister (optional)
8. 1 carton of malt drink, 1 carton of biscuits or snacks for registry staffs.
Please note that these expenses varies with different marriage registries
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