What Are The Rules Of Court Marriage In Nigeria?

In Nigeria, court marriages are regulated by the Marriage Act of 1990, which allows couples to have a court or legal marriage that is not conducted in a traditional setting. The minimum age requirement for a court marriage is 21 years for the bride and 18 years for the groom. Consent from both parties involved is essential for a court marriage to be considered valid.

For dissolution of a marriage, the marriage must be at least 2 years old. The Matrimonial Causes Act of 1970 sets out guidelines for determining the validity and legal implications of marriages contracted outside Nigeria. Divorce is a legal means of bringing a statutory marriage to an end through the court system, and for a marriage to undergo divorce proceedings in the High Court, it must be one governed by the Act.

The hierarchy of courts in Nigeria includes the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the country, and the Matrimonial Causes Act 1970 and the Matrimonial Causes Rules 1983. The Marriage Act, Matrimonial Causes Act 1970, and Matrimonial Causes Rules 1983 govern matrimonial causes in Nigeria. To prepare for a court wedding in Nigeria, follow these steps: collect and fill the Form A, pay the prescribed fee, swear to an affidavit, and register with the marriage registry.


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What is the difference between court marriage and registry marriage in Nigeria?

People often ask if there’s a difference between court and registry marriages in Nigeria. The answer is no. Court and registry marriage are the same type of marriage. Marriages are not conducted at the court registry, but only at the marriage registry. There are two types of marriage registries: the Federal Marriage Registry and the Local Government Marriage Registry. The main laws about marriage in Nigeria are the Marriage Act of 1914 and the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1970.

Can I remarry without divorce in Nigeria?

This order can be used if the couple decides to divorce. This is most relevant when one spouse won’t agree to separate. This type of separation is not court-ordered. It is created by the parties through a separation agreement that will contain issues relating to child custody, child support, spousal support, maintenance, and property. A family lawyer can help write the agreement. The parties can decide whether to start living together again or to end the marriage.

What are the rules of court marriage in nigeria pdf
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What are the two ways of getting married in Nigeria?

Marriage in Nigeria has two types. There are two types of marriage in Nigeria: marriage under the Act and traditional/customary marriage.

A traditional/customary marriage is a ceremony done according to the families’ traditions. In Nigeria, this could involve gifts and money.

A marriage under the Act is one that has been performed according to the Marriage Act. To make a marriage in compliance with the Act, you must give notice to the registrar in the local government where the marriage will be conducted. The couple gives the notice of marriage to the registrar after paying a fee. The registrar then puts the notice on the door and in the local government area.

What is court marriage rules
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How much is a court marriage certificate in Nigeria?

MARRIAGE FEES 1. SPECIAL MARRIAGE: ₦ 37,000.00 2. ORDINARY MARRIAGE: ₦ 27,000.00 3. CHANGE OF MARRIAGE VENUE: ₦ 150,000.00 4. VERIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS: ₦ 50,000.00.

In line with the Marriage Act, Cap 6 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and in accordance with Official Gazette Notices on Marriage Nos. The Citizenship and Business Department of the Ministry of Interior is inspecting places of worship and organizations requesting Expatriate Quotas. It is also issuing licenses to conduct statutory marriages and renewing existing ones.

2. All administrators, registrars, and representatives of places of worship should check the Fee Details Page under the Place of Worship Section to view each application processing fee.

3. All places of worship and companies that have applied for licenses or quotas must pay an inspection fee. This fee is renewable every three years.

Court marriage advantages and disadvantages
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What are the requirements for court marriage in Nigeria?

Wedding/Marriage in Nigeria: You need a birth certificate or a declaration of age. … Affidavit of Bachelorhood from a law court/ Bachelorhood Certificate (if bachelor) Affidavit of Marriage (if married) Evidence of Divorce – Decree 90 and Decree Absolute (if divorced) There are three types of marriage: customary, religious, and court. A court wedding or marriage is the official proof of a man and woman becoming husband and wife. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, many couples are considering getting married legally in Nigeria. In Nigeria, the Ministry of Interior is in charge of carrying out statutory marriages. There are two types of marriages: 1. Ordinary Marriage: This is a marriage between a Nigerian and another Nigerian.

Special Marriage: This is a marriage between a Nigerian and someone from outside Nigeria.

Birth certificate or declaration of age. Passport photo; sworn affidavit of bachelorhood from a court. Affidavit of marriage. Evidence of divorce: Decree 90 and Decree Absolute. Death certificate of previous wife. Evidence of annulment from court. Sworn affidavit of single with child/children.

How many days notice for court marriage in Nigeria?

To get married, you have to go to a local public registry. You have to pay a fee of 2,000 Naira and fill out a form called a Letter of Marriage Intention. If you are under 18, you have to get your parents’ permission. The registry will display the Letter of Marriage Intention for 21 days on a public notice board. If no objections are made during the 21-day period, the couple can register their marriage. They must provide their birth certificates and HIV and genotype test results. Divorced people must show their divorce certificates, while widowed people must show their death certificates. A marriage registrar can witness the couple taking their oaths.

What is the punishment for second marriage without divorce in Nigeria?

Bigamy is when someone gets married again after their first spouse is still alive. This is a felony and the person can go to prison for seven years. Some celebrities got married recently. Not news except that one celebrity married under customary law and another in a church while his first marriage was still valid. His first wife said she hadn’t been served divorce papers. People online talked a lot about polygamy, bigamy, and morality. I told someone that if someone is married under the law and the second marriage is conducted under custom, it doesn’t matter if the first marriage hasn’t been dissolved. Someone said this was wrong. They said that marrying under customary law while still married under a statutory law is illegal and constitutes the offence of bigamy. In this blog post, I try to explain the issue. Bigamy is marrying someone else while still married to someone else. That’s it. Right? Not so fast. There are three types of marriage in Nigeria: statutory, customary, and Christian. To understand bigamy in Nigeria, we must define marriage. We have to define marriage.

How long does it take to get married in court in Nigeria?

What’s the average cost of a Nigerian wedding? Here’s the breakdown: Special marriage is 35,000 naira. Ordinary marriage is 21,000 naira. Changing the venue costs 30,000 naira. The timeline for an ordinary marriage is 21 days, while that of a special marriage is 7 days. Read this post to learn the difference between an ordinary and special marriage. With 51,000 naira (about 120 USD), you can have an ordinary civil wedding in Nigeria. If you want a dream wedding, we can help. Click here to read more. Requirements for a Nigerian court wedding:

Sample of court marriage certificate in nigeria
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Can a legally married man marry another woman in Nigeria?

In Nigeria, bigamy is a crime. It means marrying someone else while already married. It is a crime and the marriage is not valid.

Statutory Provisions. The main laws on bigamy in Nigeria are Sections 370 and 387 of the Criminal Code Act and the Penal Code Act. These apply in the southern and northern parts of Nigeria.

Section 378 of the CCA says that if you get married again while your spouse is still alive, you are guilty of a felony and can go to prison for seven years.


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What Are The Rules Of Court Marriage In Nigeria
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Christina Kohler

As an enthusiastic wedding planner, my goal is to furnish couples with indelible recollections of their momentous occasion. After more than ten years of experience in the field, I ensure that each wedding I coordinate is unique and characterized by my meticulous attention to detail, creativity, and a personal touch. I delight in materializing aspirations, guaranteeing that every occasion is as singular and enchanted as the love narrative it commemorates. Together, we can transform your wedding day into an unforgettable occasion that you will always remember fondly.

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3 comments

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  • I did a traditional wedding with my wife on the 6th of march 2021, and we signed an agreement the day before our traditional wedding on the 5th of March 2021, that says ‘There shall be no divorce’, however recently as she was upset with me and without going to customary court to divorce, she went behind my back and did a court wedding with another man. I wish to nullify her court wedding she did 2weeks ago, as she as breached the agreement we made together. Can the agreement of the 5th of March 2021 be enforced

  • Thank you for sharing. But i have two questions to ask. For the newly couples: 1) Out of the Ten requirements mentioned. Apart from the number 1-3. Would they still submit the number 4-10 requirements as well? 2) I learnt the witnesses also have requirements. E.g the two father’s. What are their requirements that day ?

  • Pls do you know anything about the change of venue option thats on their site? Does it mean that you can request to have one of the registrars come to meet you at a venue of your choice to take the vows and give you your certificate so you dont have to go to the registry on your wedding day? Im confused about if thats what the change of venue means.