Notice of intended marriage (s.5 Special Marriage Act)
The notice both partners give the Marriage Officer before a court marriage.
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How the paper begins
With Dastavo's sample details; the people and places are fictional. The words in blue are the ones you fill in.
To,
The Marriage Officer,
District Amarnagar
Subject: Notice of intended marriage under Section 5 of the Special Marriage Act, 1954
Sir/Madam,
We hereby give you notice that a marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, is intended to be solemnised between us within three calendar months from the date of this notice.
| Name | Condition | Occupation | Age | Dwelling place | Length of residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karan Mehta | Unmarried | teacher | 29 | House No. 12, Street No. 3, Nanak Nagar, Amarnagar, Tehsil and District Amarnagar, Punjab | 8 years |
| Simran Kaur | Unmarried | nurse | 24 | House No. 88, Model Town, Amarnagar, Tehsil and District Amarnagar, Punjab | 24 years |
Each of us has resided in this district for at least thirty days before the date of this notice.
Simran Kaur
Second party
Thanking you,
Date: 12-10-2026
Karan Mehta
House No. 12, Street No. 3, Nanak Nagar, Amarnagar, Tehsil and District Amarnagar, Punjab
Phone: 0000000004
What to bring
Papers to bring
- Proof of age of both of you: the matriculation or birth certificate, or a passport (the man must be 21 or older, the woman 18 or older)
- Proof that at least one of you has lived in the district for the last 30 days or more: Aadhaar, voter card, a rent deed or a residence certificate
- For a divorced partner, a certified copy of the divorce decree; for a widow or widower, the late spouse's death certificate
- Passport-size photographs of both of you
- Your affidavits of age, marital status and no prohibited relationship, if the office asks for them
Where to go
Signed by both of you and usually given in person to the Marriage Officer of the district where at least one of you has lived for the last 30 days (usually at the Deputy Commissioner's or SDM's office); the notice is put up on the office board for objections.
Fee
Plain paper is enough; the Marriage Officer's fee under the state's rules is paid at the office. Ask there for today's amount.
Good to know
- Anyone may object within 30 days on a ground in section 4 (age, a living spouse, a prohibited relationship); the marriage can take place after the 30 days and within three months of the notice.
- If one of you lives in another district, a copy of the notice is sent to that district's Marriage Officer too.
- On the day of the marriage you need three witnesses: see "Declarations of the bride, the bridegroom and the witnesses (Third Schedule, Special Marriage Act)".
Papers and fees can change. Check with the office before you go. Guidance only, not yet reviewed by a lawyer.
Stamp paper
Plain paper is enough.