Everything about witnesses for court marriage and marriage registration in Gujarat — numbers, eligibility, documents and what they sign.
Witnesses are a small part of the process, but a missing or unprepared witness is one of the most common reasons a marriage date gets postponed.
How many witnesses?
- Special Marriage Act: three witnesses must sign the declaration and the Marriage Certificate Book along with the couple.
- Registration of a Hindu marriage: the registrar usually requires two witnesses, ideally people who attended the ceremony.
Who can be a witness?
- Any adult (18 or older) of sound mind.
- Friends, colleagues, neighbours or relatives — there is no need for them to be family.
- Witnesses do not need to be from the same religion or city as the couple.
What witnesses need to bring
- Original ID and address proof (Aadhaar card is widely accepted) and a self-attested copy.
- Passport-size photographs.
- Their own time — they must be present in person on the day.
Practical tips
- Confirm witnesses a few days ahead and keep a backup witness in mind.
- Make sure their ID shows a current address and is not expired.
- Tell them they are signing to confirm they witnessed the marriage — they take on no financial or legal liability beyond confirming what they saw.
This article is general information about the law and procedure in Gujarat. Rules and office practices change — call us to confirm what applies to your case.