Requirements For Court Marriage In Nigeria

 "I Brother Wale accept Sister Nneka as my wife today, to have and to hold, for better, for worse…”

“As Bother Wale and Sister Nneka have agreed to be joined in holy matrimony …I pronounce they should both live together as husband and wife from today…!”

Marriage, the time-honoured institution, is built on the premise or foundation that a man joins a woman to become one. And over the years, similar words as these above have marked the joining of a man and his wife in marriage.

It is the dream of most young people to see their relationships end in marriage and in spite of diverse cultures and traditions, the consummation of marriage evokes the same joy and emotive feelings everywhere.

But in present day Nigeria with harsh living situation resulting from the economy and other conditions where people live and take decisions on the spur of the moment, many young people – intending couples do not consider court marriage as necessary. To many people, once they do the traditional rites or traditional marriage and go for church blessing, they are done.

But the court marriage is an essential part Nigeria’s customary law which guides.

According to a Marriage Registry Officer in Lagos, “The reason why many intending couples shy away from court marriage is simply ignorance. They think the process is cumbersome or very expensive. People seem to have a fear for anything government and attribute misconceptions to the process”.

So what are the requirements?

1.         A registration fee (of about of N7, 500:00) is mandatory. But in Lagos, this fee varies according to the category of the local government office where the Registry is located. In Lagos for instance, there bare categories A, B, and C. In most cases, with an average cost of N12,000 the entire process would be completed.

2.         The intending couples are to present valid copies birth certificates or declaration of age.

3.         Two passport photographs each of the intending couple

4.         The notification to marry will be posted on the board of the Registry for 21 working days from the date of filing registration to marry. The 21 days is to allow time for objection to the union by any concerned member of the public. At the expiration of the 21 days, the intending couple and Marriage Registry would proceed with the wedding.

An official of a Marriage Registry in Lagos informed marriage Alive Digest that no case of a queried marriage has been experienced for over three years. 

But at the pint if joining the couple, if there is a query from anyone, the Registry would attempt to resolve the matter as best as it could. And it can defer a wedding for a maximum of three months. If the matter is not resolved after the three months, the intending couple is expected to file for a new registration and the previous one become void.

5.         Most weddings fall on Thursdays. But on special demand (which attracts special fees) the wedding could be done on Saturday

6.         The intending couple is expected to undergo two days marriage counseling at the Registry before the wedding date.

7.         Official photographs on the wedding day. 2 copies are to be in the custody of the Registry for record purposes. Professional photographers are usually found in the premises of the Marriage Registry

8.         Couples are expected to wear wedding gowns or to dress formal as they wish. The basic need here is for couples to dress neat and formal as much as possible. At least, it is a happy day!

9.         Two witness to sign the marriage register – for the bride and the groom. The witnesses must be present as this cannot be done in proxy.

10.       A wedding ring is required. But in place of this, the Bible or Koran is a substitute. It should be note that the marriage law in Nigeria is based on the English common law.

From all indications, intending couples do not need to fear formalizing or legalizing their union. The demands or requirements are simple and straight forward.

There are more benefits to gain in legalizing your marriage than there is to lose if you don’t. And even if you have been married traditionally or otherwise for many years, you can still approach the marriage registry near you. There is no penalty for coming late!