Regardless of whatever drama goes on with the Nigerian economy, the one thing that will surely happen every week is a wedding.
Therefore, in this article, we’ll guide you through having a court wedding and highlight some of its main benefits.
But firstly, what exactly is a court wedding?
A court wedding, also called a civil marriage, is a legal ceremony conducted by a government authority like a marriage registrar. In Nigeria, court weddings are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior, and court marriages are protected under the Marriage Act, Chapter 218 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.
It might surprise you to know that there are two types of court marriages in Nigeria. These include:
- Ordinary marriage: This is a marriage between two Nigerians.
- Special marriage: A marriage between a Nigerian and a non-Nigerian or between two non-Nigerians intending to marry in the country.
Court weddings are usually done in marriage registries; there are two kinds of these registries in Nigeria. We have:
The Federal Marriage Registry
This includes the Ikoyi registry in Lagos state, which covers residents in the South-West, South-South and South-East, and the Wuse 2 registry in Abuja, which covers all residents in Northern Nigeria.
The Local Government Marriage Registry
These kinds of registries can be found in each local council across states in Nigeria.
What Are the Steps Involved in Having a Court Wedding?
Declare your intention to marry in your registry of choice
The first step is to visit the marriage registry and give a notice of your intention to get married. Once this is done, the registrar will issue you a Notice Form or Form A. In this form, you’ll be expected to fill in details such as name, age, occupation and marital status.
Once done, you’ll be expected to return the form to the registrar along with two coloured passport photographs.
The Notice is entered into the Marriage Notice Book
Upon submission, the registrar enters your Notice into the Marriage Notice book, after which a copy of the Notice form is posted on the registry’s notice board for 21 days, which is in accordance with Section 10 of the Marriage Act.
The primary reason behind the 21 days is to act as a caveat or warning period, i.e., to give people aware of the intended marriage a chance to raise their objections or concerns.
Pay the set fee and swear to an affidavit
Once the 21 days expire, you’re expected to pay a prescribed fee, usually less than ₦25,000, for the marriage certificate. You are also required to swear an affidavit that confirms the following:
- You and your partner aren’t less than 21 years old. In cases where both parties are under 21, written parental consent must be attached to the affidavit.
- Either you or your partner have lived in the district where the marriage is intended to be held for at least 15 days.
- No situation can serve as a hindrance to the wedding.
- Neither you nor your partner are customarily married to a different person.
Forms C and D are issued
Once the above mentioned requirements have been met, the marriage registrar gives you a Form C that confirms compliance with the needs and that there are no lawful hindrances to the intended wedding. Following this, Form D is issued, giving you the authority to celebrate your wedding.
According to Section 12 of the Marriage Act, the wedding must be held within 3 months by the registrar or in an authorised place of worship. Failure to comply will result in the entire process starting again.
The wedding day
On the wedding day, two witnesses must be present, and it must be conducted between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The officiating officer—the registrar or a recognised clergyman—will present Form E, also known as the marriage certificate, which will contain details such as the date of the marriage, the names of the parties and witnesses, and the certificate number.
Registration of the marriage certificate
And lastly, the final step is to file your marriage certificate in the Marriage Register Book.
There are a lot of benefits attached to having a court wedding/marriage. Some reasons why you should consider it include:
It’s more convenient
Court weddings allow people to get married without going through religious or traditional processes. This way, the couple can have a more straightforward and stress-free wedding ceremony. Also, you can get married in less than an hour instead of spending the whole day.
It offers legal security
As mentioned, court marriages are recognised and protected under the Marriage Act. As such, it offers legal benefits and protection for both parties. For instance, in divorce cases, guidelines are offered that secure the spouse’s financial interests; they also provide a framework for child custody issues.
It’s more cost-effective
Everyone knows that weddings in Nigeria cost an arm and a leg, with people losing friendships over aso-ebi expenses. But with a court wedding, you can have a more budget-friendly ceremony.
