Marriage certificate: what does it look like, how to replace it and can it be laminated?
The conclusion of a marriage is an exciting and solemn moment that does not leave indifferent anyone present at the ceremony. A wedding is a holiday when everyone is happy and happy. But the newlyweds, heroes of the occasion, must remember that now they are a single whole, a new unit of society. Although many people say that a stamp in a passport is just a formality, nevertheless, a family is considered a family only after an official marriage. The newlyweds are issued a marriage registration certificate.
How it was in the past
Centuries ago, people performed the sacrament of marriage in the church. This was very responsible, since not only the relatives present, but also the Lord looked at them. At least those who are being married firmly believed in this. They appeared before God, took an oath of love and fidelity.
In Russia, there was no registration of marriage in the same form as it is now, no official documents were issued. All data was recorded by hand. The spouses had no idea that there should be some kind of special form.
Over the years, the procedure for registering a marriage has improved, and weddings have become desirable. Most couples still prefer the classic procedure at the registry office. They are issued a government-issued document that has legal force and proves the existence of the family.
Difference from other documents
Almost all documents confirming a particular civil status have the same format and are printed on stamped paper.The marriage certificate has a pleasant pink color, this is its main difference from all the others.
Each document issued by the registry office has its own distinctive color. This was done so that the registrar and the owner himself could only by how he looks, without even reading, determine which document they have in their hands.
Who can get
Going deeper into antiquity, it is worth noting that in Russia only people of different blood could enter into marriage. Even godparents, godparents of one child, were forbidden to get married in the church. The spouses were supposed to have a free status, not to be in another marriage. If the wedding was preceded by a divorce for an unproven reason, as well as the age difference between the newlyweds is more than 15 years, then the church could refuse the wedding.
In modern society, people who get married must reach 18 years of age. Only adults can start a family and receive an official document. If it happens that the young bride becomes pregnant, then with the consent of the parents and on the provision of the appropriate certificate from the doctor, the registrar can make concessions and formalize the marriage.
As for the difference in the ages of the bride and groom, modern law is quite loyal to her. In absolutely any age difference, a woman and a man can be legally married.
A marriage is registered only by mutual consent of the future husband and wife. Many consider the question of the registrar about the consent of the marriage to be formal, but there are, fortunately, rare cases when one of the couple changes their minds right in the ceremonial hall.
Where is issued
The certificate of state registration of relations is issued only by the relevant civil registry office (ZAGS). The exception is small towns and villages in which there is no registry office, and the powers of registration of states have been transferred to local governments.
It is quite difficult to forge the certificate form. These forms are printed in Goznak printing houses and have a high degree of security.
- Serial number specific to this document. Using this number, you can easily check the authenticity of the form.
- Unique design. On the stamped paper, you can see watermarks and microtext, which testifies to the state authenticity of the document.
The original document must have an imprint of the seal of the state body, on which its name is visible. The signature of the registrar, partially covered by the seal, should also be clearly visible. If the seal and signature are separately, then the document can be invalidated.
If the form is fake, then you can see all the nuances with a magnifying glass. Fuzzy contours, fuzzy print will be noticeable under the magnifying glass. If you bring the form to an ultraviolet lamp, then on it, like on money, fibers should be displayed. The print size should also be appropriate. If there is a difference in size even by half a millimeter, then this may indicate a fake.
Content of the certificate
Before registering their relationship officially, future newlyweds fill out an application, on the basis of which a marriage certificate will be issued. In the application, the spouses indicate full information about themselves, their passport data, note whether the surname of one of the spouses will change. According to the law, the surname can be changed not only by the wife, but the husband has the right to take the wife's surname. If the newlyweds decide to leave their previous surnames, then this is also not prohibited.
The official civil status document contains the following information about the spouses:
- their personal data: full name, date of birth, citizenship and passport details;
- the date of the marriage and the number of the record of the act;
- the surnames of the real spouses, which are assigned to them after the official registration of the relationship.
A marriage certificate, like any other official document, has a series and number.If desired, the form can indicate nationality, but this item is optional.
If the marriage registration certificate contains information that is not provided by the law, then such a document may lose its validity and be invalidated.
All data in the completed form must be authentic and entered into it only on the basis of official documents. According to the data indicated in the certificate, you can easily check whether the marriage was actually registered.
Together with the certificate, the newlyweds receive a stamp in their passport on the page describing their marital status.
Terms of use of the document
A marriage registration certificate is an official document that must be carefully stored and used. Many people ask the question of whether it is possible to laminate a document so that it does not tear, wrinkle or get dirty. The answer is obvious - it is strictly forbidden to do so. After lamination, the certificate will be invalid. On the reverse side of the form, notes are made if necessary, but this cannot be done on a document wrapped in film.
If you are worried about the safety of a valuable document, then place it in a special cover, thanks to which the certificate will be completely safe. There are many options for cover designs to suit all tastes.
Replacement
It so happens that the marriage certificate must be replaced. The reason for this may be damage and the presence of unreadable information on the form. The basis for issuing a new document is also the loss of the original. To re-obtain the certificate, the spouses need to contact the authority at the place of residence or any other, if during this time the address has changed.
The deadline for obtaining a new document depends on which authority the applicants applied to. If this is the same registry office in which the marriage was registered, then the form will be issued immediately. Otherwise, the registrar will have to make a request to the archive, and the spouses will have to wait for a while.
To re-obtain the document, you will need to fill out an application indicating the reason for applying for a certificate.
Answers to the most popular questions about the registry office in the video below.
