Getting married in Nigeria can be a confusing process if you aren’t aware of the requirements and the proceedings. This is exactly why we have written this article, to guide you through the process of getting married in Nigeria.
First off, it is best you get the legal proceedings out of the way and settle on a date for the marriage ceremony as soon as possible, preferably before any other preparations such as the wedding reception arrangements and sending out invitations.
The Requirements
The Nigerian court marriage takes place in a registry and is recognized by the Federal Republic of the federation under the marriage Act.
Some of the requirements needed for court marriage in Nigeria include:
- A Declaration of Marriage: This is a form that will be given to you by a registry. On the form, your bio-data will be demanded. Fill in all sections correctly. Make sure to not miss the spelling of your name, your date of birth, your house address, occupation, and marital status.
- To prove that couples are more than 18 years old and do not need consent from an older party such as a guardian, they must present their birth certificates. They can make do with an affidavit if they have no birth certificate presented by the federal ministry of health.
- Passport Photographs: Be sure that the passport photographs are up to date. They must be clear and must show the features of both parties properly.
- One of the marrying parties must be residing in Nigeria.
- You or your partner must be unmarried in the eyes of the law.
Read: How to Start a Business in Nigeria
The Proceedings
First, to get married in Nigeria, you have filled the necessary forms. After that, the marriage registry puts up these forms on a notice board. This is to notify the public that you and your spouse are about to get married. It also calls for objections. For twenty-one days, these forms will remain on the notice board in case anyone comes to object to your getting married to your spouse.
If, after twenty-one days, no formal objections presented to the court are made against your marriage plans, then it is time to go ahead. Both spouses will return to the registry, where they will be offered three more forms. The forms include:
- Prohibited degree form
- Affidavit form
- Information slip
Spouses will declare that every piece of information supplied in the forms they have been given is true. Then the court will go ahead. It is left for you and your partner to suggest a date for your court marriage.
On the day of the marriage, visit the court with your witnesses. They are to be present with you. Sign the marriage register.
Read: How to get an apartment in Lagos
The Costs
The cost of court marriage in Nigeria varies from around N15,000 to N25,000.
Where to Get Married in Lagos
There is a Federal Marriage Registry in Lagos State, Nigeria. And it is located at Ikoyi, Lagos State.
Read: What is the Cost of Living in Lagos?
Special Marriage
A marriage is considered a special marriage if one of the marrying parties isn’t based in the country as, at the time, the marital processes are ongoing. For a special marriage license in Nigeria, you need:
- Passport Photograph
- Birth Certificate.
- Evidence that you haven’t been married before. If you have evidence of absolute divorce.
- International Passport (if living abroad)
- Arrival Passport Stamp Page
- Residence Permit
Present these, and your marriage processes in Nigeria will kickstart.
Photo by Caroline Veronez on Unsplash
