At what age can you get married?
Perhaps many girls who want to get married clutched their heads when they learned that they would have to wait until their eighteenth birthday, since there were no special or extenuating circumstances. And of course, older ladies will try to console them, saying that there is no hurry, you still have time to take a big spoonful of this family life. Both generations have their own truth, but probably what matters is not at what age you can legally get married, but when you need to do it. After all, age is not so important; sometimes a 30-year-old lady behaves childishly, completely not understanding what responsibility she must take upon herself when getting married. And there are cases when a 16-year-old girl nurses a child, manages the housework, and feels happy. Everything depends on the person; each of us has a different age when it is time to get married.
At what age can you get married in Ukraine? Until recently, it was allowed to get married from the age of seventeen, but amendments were adopted to the Family Code of Ukraine in April 2012 to raise the marriageable age for women. Now it is, as in Russia, 18 years. But the right to marriage can be obtained by a girl (or boy) 16 years old by a court decision if the marriage is in the interests of the couple wishing to get married. Previously, the minimum age for marriage was 14 years. Raising the age of marriage was explained by the authors of the bill as an attempt to instill in the younger generation a more responsible and civilized attitude towards the institution of family.
How many days before the wedding should I submit an application to the registry office?
According to Article 11 of the Family Code of the Russian Federation, marriage takes place one month after filing the relevant application. Thirty days are given to weigh everything again and consciously create a family. According to the law, the registry office may increase this period, but not more than by a month.
In practice, due to queues for formal and outdoor ceremonies, couples are forced to book the required dates several months before the wedding. Please note: make a reservation. The application itself is still written exactly 30 days in advance. In other words, if a beautiful date is important to you, you will have to visit the registry office more than once.
In what cases is it not necessary to wait a month?
They can reduce the thinking time and even schedule a couple on the same day if there are good reasons. For example:
- The bride is pregnant or the child together has already been born.
- The life of the bride or groom is at risk due to illness.
- The groom goes to serve in the army.
- The bride or groom is leaving on a long business trip.
Any of these circumstances must be documented. Thus, the fact of pregnancy is certified by a certificate from the antenatal clinic with stamps, signatures and due dates. If you are not giving birth soon, the registry office is unlikely to accommodate you: you will have to wait 30 days.
How soon can I sign?
Once your application is submitted, you will need to wait 30 days, with a maximum of 60 days until your deadline for registration comes up. When you come to the registry office on your wedding day, there will definitely be a line there and you will have to wait for the employee to call your couple.
But if one of the spouses has to go on a business trip to another city or is sent to serve, then they can go to a meeting with you and schedule it on the same day. In any case, you can find the manager and clarify the deadlines with her.
Deadlines
You, as an intelligent person, understand that an application to the registry office must be prepared and submitted in advance. Do you want to do this 1-2 days before marriage? Or, on the contrary, do you want to submit the application a year before the wedding in order to better organize everything?
I am asked from 5 to 15 times a week how many days or months in advance this can be done by law, whether it is possible to submit a year or six months before the desired date. In most cases, the application is submitted one month before the wedding. But there are exceptions to this rule.
Recently, my friend was also planning to get married. She had already prepared the dress, calculated the approximate wedding date and wanted to start inviting friends and relatives to the celebration. But her plans changed when the registry office said that the wedding would not take place earlier than in two months. To avoid getting into this situation, read the recommendations.
If the spouse is pregnant or seriously ill, the registry office staff will register the marriage on the same day. If you submit documents through government services, the period can be increased to 12 months.
- Situations often arise when civil registry office employees can independently increase this period to 2 months. This was done in order to reduce queues and load during the summer months. According to statistics, in August, the number of couples wishing to get married increases by 3–5 times compared to February. Please take this point into account in advance.
- There are days like City Day or a beautiful date, when the number of people wanting to get married increases tens and even hundreds of times. The civil registry office knows about such dates and tries to conclude all marriages scheduled for these days. Although it is not easy for them, they have to change the work schedule and call all employees to work on this day. For example, on December 12, 2012, some registry offices were open until 5 am. You can try to guess with a similar event to register the marriage.
- The 1 month period between submitting the application and the wedding itself was not chosen by chance. It is expected that during this time the newlyweds will check the seriousness of their intentions. If something goes wrong, you will have the opportunity to withdraw your application without consequences. For those who have already decided everything a long time ago, it is better to use this time to prepare for the ceremony.
- If you cannot get to the date you wanted to get married, try submitting an application to another registry office. Situations often arise that in one registry office everything is occupied for 2 months in advance, and in another only for one. If both newlyweds are citizens of the Russian Federation, they can submit an application at any registry office in our country.
Speed up or slow down
There are some nuances that allow you to both speed up and extend the application review process.
For an instant wedding, on the same day or maximum five days after submitting documents, a valid reason is required - the birth of a common child, pregnancy, an upcoming long business trip, a serious illness of one of the spouses, a threat to life, for example, while serving in hot spots.
Time away is chosen by couples who want to coincide the joyful event of starting a family with some important date for them - the anniversary of their acquaintance or first kiss, the birthday of one of their parents, or just a beautiful number. In this case, to be sure that queues will not interfere with organizing a beautiful fairy tale, it is better to sign up in advance.
In summer and early autumn, on weekends, as well as holidays and beautiful dates, for example, December 12, there are always a lot of people who want to get married , and the registry office may simply not have time to receive everyone. In this case, you need to book an appointment long before the date, so as not to spoil the mood by the inability to squeeze into the busy schedule of the registry office.
If you have already set a date for the ceremony before officially submitting your application, and find that there are no places in your Wedding Palace, then any other registry office may be suitable as a solution to the problem. If both the bride and groom are Russians, then they can get married in any city in the Russian Federation, regardless of their place of registration.
Minimum and maximum period
The minimum waiting period for the day of marriage registration is 30 days, the maximum is 12 months from the date of filing the application.
A couple can also apply for a marriage license several months before the planned wedding day.
In some cases, the deadline until the day of marriage registration is postponed by 2 months or more, for reasons beyond the control of the bride or groom. This may be due to the increased workload in the marriage registration schedule at the registry office, where the future spouses applied with a personal statement.
Marriage registration procedure
Submitting an application
The first thing that future newlyweds who decide to legalize their relationship will need is to submit an application to the registry office to register their marriage.
This does not have to be specifically your registry office at the place of registration - the law does not prohibit choosing any branch on the territory of the Russian Federation to carry out the marriage registration procedure.
You can choose a branch closer to the restaurant where you plan to celebrate the wedding, or one where the bride will like the decoration of the room. Absolutely any registry office is obliged to accept the application of the newlyweds.
The second frequently asked question is what should newlyweds do, one of whom is not a resident of the Russian Federation? In this case, the current legislation of the Russian Federation applies to the second spouse who has a different citizenship.
For the procedure for marrying a foreigner, additionally, when submitting an application, you may only need a certificate stating that he (or she) is not married in his or her homeland. Also, when submitting such an application, you will need a notarized translation of the foreign spouse’s passport.
Otherwise, the procedure is completely identical to that which takes place between two Russians.
If one of the spouses has not reached marriageable age and is a minor, then you will also need the notarized consent of the parents to enter into such a marriage, and the presence of one of them (or an official guardian) when filing.
In special cases, you can get married upon reaching the age of 14 years, that is, from the moment you receive a general passport. But this may require permission from the regional governor.
How long does it take to submit an application through government services?
Every day we receive questions about how we can increase the period from 2 months to 12. This is required for those couples who want to have more time to prepare their wedding. This issue becomes relevant in winter, as newlyweds plan their marriage date for the summer months.
Our lawyers have found one legal way to increase the term. To do this, the bride and groom must register on the government services website. Then you need to submit an application to register the relationship there. As you fill out the data, you will have a step where you can select the date and time. It is here that you can indicate the number for several months in advance. Let's give an example: today is June 12, we go to government services and look at what dates are offered.
To do this, at the first stage we indicate the city in which we want to hold the wedding. You can indicate your hometown or any other.
Now enter the address of the registry office in this city. If you don't know the full address, select it on the map.
This image shows a list of all registry offices, they are marked in blue.
When this stage is completed, detailed information will appear with the address and opening hours of the registry office. Just below you can see a blue button with the inscription - select an appointment time. Press it, now we will move on to the most important step.
A calendar appears in the foreground, showing that you can select a date from July 22 to December 13. It turns out that you can choose a wedding date six months in advance.
Well, after choosing a date, you need to indicate a convenient time. We chose December 12 as an example, this is the so-called beautiful number 12.12, on this date there are large queues every year. But if you apply 6 months in advance, then any time from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. is free.
How to choose a marriage registration date
The day of marriage registration is determined independently by the young people getting married, but the final decision will be made only in agreement with the registry office representative accepting the application.
If the couple has chosen a date and time that is already scheduled for another couple getting married, the specialist will suggest other dates or times for the celebration.
The workload of each Wedding Palace is ambiguous, and if young people want to get married on a certain day, but the registry office does not have free time for the chosen date, they can apply to another department. We also suggest that you familiarize yourself with which registry office to submit a marriage application.
Is it possible to book multiple days
When submitting an application for marriage registration, it is possible to book several dates for the wedding ceremony, but no more than 2.
If the couple does not show up on the first scheduled date for the marriage registration, the ceremony will automatically be rescheduled for the second booked date. In case of attendance, the second wedding date booked will be cancelled.
How to reschedule
Young people can reschedule their wedding date in advance by notifying an authorized civil registry office employee of their decision.
If a couple does not appear at the registry office on the scheduled day of marriage registration, it is impossible to reschedule the wedding ceremony to another day. In this case, young people will have to write a second application, pay a state fee and re-select the day for painting.
What will reduce the waiting period for marriage registration
When deciding how many days in advance an application is submitted to the registry office, it is necessary to take into account that the registering authority provides for special events only on certain days of the week. Before deciding on a date, the future newlyweds find out the schedule, what days they sign up for at the registry office, and what date would be most convenient for the celebrations.
Usually the waiting period cannot be less than 30 days, but sometimes it is possible to do without lengthy preparation if the couple has good reasons for doing so.
According to paragraph 3 of Art. 2 of Law No. 319-FZ, special circumstances that allow registration on the day of application or any subsequent convenient day include:
- An upcoming birth, when the bride confirms pregnancy with a certificate from a consultation, issued on a special form with the seal of a medical institution. This option is available upon confirmation of pregnancy at least 2 months old.
- The birth of a baby, when you have to issue a birth certificate and enter information about the father.
- Identification of situations when one of the newlyweds is in serious danger (business trip to places of hostilities).
- A long official trip abroad for officials with forced absence from the Russian Federation for several years (sending consuls or ministers).
- Confirmation of the diagnosis of a serious illness of the second partner.
A reduction in the date is allowed when submitting an application accompanied by documents confirming the justification of urgent measures.
If a person’s health condition does not allow him to appear at the registry office on his own, the newlyweds have the right to ask for on-site registration. The service does not require additional payment and is available only on the basis of submitted documents.
When organizing an emergency painting, you retain the right to choose exactly how to record the fact of the family’s appearance - in a solemn atmosphere, or without unnecessary congratulations.
Is it possible to submit an application to the registry office six months before the wedding?
After this, you need to go to the payment tab. When submitting an application for registering a marriage through the government services portal, the state fee will be 245 rubles. Publications on how to register a marriage in St. Petersburg most often provide general information about standard situations.
Previously, it was allowed to submit an application to the registry office for marriage registration a month before the wedding; if there were valid reasons, the period was extended for another month. If documents were submitted through the State Services portal, the deadline was increased to six months. Now, as a general rule, the period for marriage (from the date of application) ranges from 1 month to 1 year.
From January 1, 2021 in Russia, an application for marriage registration at the registry office can be submitted 12 months before the wedding date. However, the minimum filing period remains the same - 30 days. You can choose the date and time of registration yourself. If the spouse is pregnant or seriously ill, the registry office staff will register the marriage on the same day. If you submit documents through government services, the period can be increased to 12 months.
Let's sum it up
Usually the application is submitted to the registry office 1 month before the set wedding date. If a couple in a large city submits an application during the peak wedding season, then this period can be extended to two months, which must be taken into account.
Finally, if a couple has experienced exceptional life circumstances (pregnancy, birth of a child, long-term departure, serious illness), then applicants can get engaged directly on the day of their application. But the couple must provide documents confirming the circumstances as proof.
When will it be possible to submit an application to the registry office one year before the wedding?
At the beginning of September, President of the Russian Federation V. Putin signed a decree “On Amendments to the RF IC and the Federal Law “On Acts of Civil Status”,” which comes into force on October 1, 2018. According to this document, the possibility of submitting applications for marriage registration for a year is open before the wedding celebration through a special portal of government services, while paying a fee for registering a marriage. This will make the work of civil registry office employees easier and reduce the level of corruption.
What documents are needed to register a marriage?
Marriage application form
So, what is needed to register a marriage at the registry office? Now you need to collect the required documents and come to the registry office with them on the reception day. Most registry offices in the Russian Federation do not work every day, and it is easier to clarify the work schedule on the website of the department itself. To do this, just use a search engine.
Required documents for submitting an application to the registry office:
- passports of the bride and groom;
- divorce certificate (if one or both spouses were previously married);
- death certificate of the previous spouse (if one of the newlyweds is a widower);
- permission to marry (if necessary, when one of the young people is a minor);
- application for marriage registration (joint);
- receipt of payment of state duty for marriage registration.
Until 2015, the state duty was 200 rubles, but recently these figures have changed. Now the fee for registering a marriage is 350 rubles. But it’s better to check this information directly with the employees of the registry office of your choice (either on their website or at the stand in the reception area). There, at the branch, you can get a payment receipt form with the correct details.
Many registry offices have begun installing terminals to accept payments from those getting married, but even if they don’t have one, the payment procedure will not be difficult.
- Firstly, this can be done at the nearest bank branch (as a rule, there is almost always a branch of Sberbank or another bank that accepts such payments next to the registry office).
- Secondly, you can use Internet banking and pay the fee from the card by printing a receipt and presenting it to the civil registry office employee.
Is it possible to apply to the registry office alone?
The fact is that submitting an application to the registry office can be done in two ways - in the personal presence of both newlyweds, or in the presence of one of them.
In the first case, a joint application for marriage is drawn up on one sheet, where each spouse fills out his side.
In the second, the newlyweds each write and fill out a separate application, and one of them submits it to the registry office.
The second application from the absent newlywed must be notarized (signature on the application) and provide copies of the necessary documents, also certified by a notary.
Marriages are not allowed to be registered when:
- One of the newlyweds is already married, and it has not been dissolved, and the spouse has not been declared dead or missing.
- One of the spouses is (recognized by the court) incompetent.
- Marriage is between close relatives (brothers and sisters, father and daughter, mother and son, grandmother, grandson, uncle and niece).
- Marriage is concluded between adopted children and their parents.
How long to wait if the wedding is not formal
40 percent of newlyweds choose a non-celebratory wedding. This means that they do not invite guests and do not celebrate their wedding in any way. But they just come to the registry office, sign and receive a certificate. You understand that in this case there is no need to wait for the day off, because usually weddings are held on Saturday so that all relatives and friends can come.
And in this case, the registration date is set for Tuesday or Wednesday, when the registry office is least crowded. In addition, you have to wait much less after submitting your application. After all, the employee does not need to look for free time; the whole procedure takes 5 minutes. In addition, no time is wasted reading the oath or turning on the music. Therefore, if speed is important to you, choose this option and you will not have to wait 2 months for your turn; you will definitely be married in 30 days.
What is the benefit for annual filers?
First of all, this will allow citizens to independently select the most desired date for registering their marriage, without having to stand in a line of people waiting for an appointment.
Since the registration date will be known in advance, this will give citizens the opportunity to calmly prepare for the celebration - order a dress or suit; choose a cafe, restaurant with the most favorable prices and appropriate menu; promptly send invitation cards to relatives and friends living far from the ceremony site and much more.
Nowadays, more and more couples register their relationship in a non-celebratory setting in order to celebrate the wedding, combining it with a tourist trip abroad. At the same time, not only the newlyweds, but also their close relatives and friends go to the wedding cortege, which makes such a ceremony more accessible. In addition, tours to exotic coasts usually become more expensive by summer, and sometimes tours are not available at all due to the large influx of people wanting to relax. By booking a trip in advance, the heroes of the occasion will be sure that the trip will be organized accordingly for them and their guests at the appointed time.
Having the opportunity to submit documents for a marriage ceremony a year in advance, citizens can choose the date for registration on the date that attracts them. For example, for the birthday of the bride or groom, for City Day, or to combine the ceremony with a tariff holiday.
By choosing a registration date, future newlyweds can choose the best registration hours for themselves. In addition to the fact that such a procedure brings benefits to citizens applying for a wedding celebration, it is also practical for registry office employees. This does not mean that the influx of people wishing to register their relationship during the holidays will be much smaller. But the burden on department employees when accepting applications for holding the celebration will be relieved.
Submitting an application to the registry office
Just a few years ago, applying to the popular Moscow registry office for a summer Saturday was a real adventure; you had to stand in a huge line, which sometimes started at 6 in the morning.
And they accepted the application only 2 months in advance, which is not always enough for preparation. It happened that the restaurant and all the contractors were booked for the required date, but it was not possible to submit an application for that day.
Now everything is much simpler; starting from 2021, it is possible to submit an application for marriage registration 12 months before the celebration, although only in electronic form through the State Services portal. While this is not possible for all registry office departments, some still need to submit an application 6 months in advance, but still there is much more time for preparation.
Podolsk city registry office (Dubrovitsy estate)
How to fill out an application?
The application for marriage has a unified form approved by the Government of the Russian Federation. The form can be taken from the registry office and filled out there by hand or filled out at home on the computer.
In any case, the date and signatures of the applicants are affixed in person in the presence of a civil registry office employee.
The marriage application consists of two columns: for him and for her. The bride and groom must indicate personal and passport details, citizenship and nationality (optional), and also make a note of what surname they wish to bear after the wedding.
The registry office employee must check the data, offer a free date for registration, run the application through the ledgers and affix a stamp.
What documents will be required?
- Passports
- Receipt for payment of state duty
The current payment amount is 350 rubles, one receipt is needed. Last year I came across the fact that several couples paid the receipt twice, they thought each one paid their own. Therefore, I’ll clarify this point, you are a future family - one receipt for two
