Legal and Judicial
Published 27 August 2026 · Last updated 27 August 2026
Court marriage in Nepal is legally known as marriage by registration. For couples who are in Nepal, the application is filed at the concerned District Court under Section 77 of the National Civil Code, 2074. The law also requires that either the man or woman, or both, must have resided in the concerned district for at least 15 days before filing the application.
Court marriage is different from ordinary marriage registration at a local ward office. Sections 77 to 80 of the National Civil Code establish the procedure for marriage by registration through the District Court. The process involves filing an application, court verification, a decision on eligibility, preparation of a consent deed, signatures by the parties and witnesses, registration, and issuance of the marriage registration certificate.
For couples considering where to file for court marriage in Nepal, the first issue is jurisdiction. A couple cannot simply choose any District Court without considering the statutory residence requirement. The following guide explains the applicable court, residence requirement, documents, process, time, cost, government fees, authorities, legal services, checklist, and laws. Adalat Lawyers in Nepal.
You can file for court marriage in Nepal at the concerned District Court if you are in Nepal. Section 77(1) of the National Civil Code, 2074 expressly provides that a man and woman who want to conclude marriage by registration must file an application in the concerned District Court when they are in Nepal. If they are outside Nepal, the law provides for filing through a Nepali embassy or consulate general.
The word “concerned” is relevant because Section 77(2) establishes a residence connection with the district. At least one applicant must have resided in that district for at least 15 days before filing. Therefore, the appropriate District Court depends not only on personal preference but also on whether the applicants satisfy the statutory residence requirement.
For example, a couple who meets the residence requirement in Kathmandu may apply at Kathmandu District Court. Similarly, where the statutory residence requirement is satisfied in Lalitpur, the application may be made at Lalitpur District Court.
The District Court having jurisdiction under Section 77 handles the application for marriage by registration. Nepal has District Courts across its districts, and the couple should identify the court connected with their qualifying residence before preparing the filing.
Section 77 does not provide a general right to select any District Court merely because it is convenient. Instead, it states that either applicant or both applicants must have resided for at least 15 days in the concerned district before filing.
The District Court then considers whether the proposed marriage can legally be concluded. Under Section 78, the concerned authority must make the decision, after necessary inquiry, within seven days of filing as to whether the marriage can be concluded.
Therefore, before filing, couples should confirm the District Court's jurisdiction and verify the required proof of residence. This is especially relevant where one or both applicants have permanent addresses in a different district.
The 15-day residence requirement is one of the main statutory requirements for court marriage in Nepal. Section 77(2) states that either the man or woman, or both, must have resided for at least 15 days in the concerned district before filing an application at the District Court.
The requirement concerns residence in the district where the application is filed. A permanent address in another district does not, by itself, prevent court marriage, provided the statutory residence requirement is satisfied in the district where the application is submitted.
Applicants should therefore maintain documentary evidence of their residence where the court requires it. The exact supporting documents can vary according to the applicant's circumstances and the court's verification requirements.
For foreign nationals, the residence issue can require additional documentation and coordination with immigration and diplomatic authorities. Because foreign-national marriages may involve documents issued outside Nepal, the file should be reviewed before the 15-day period is completed.
Yes, court marriage can be filed outside the applicants' permanent home district if the statutory residence requirement is satisfied in the district where they apply. Section 77(2) does not require the applicant to file only in the district shown as the permanent address on the citizenship certificate. It requires residence of at least 15 days in the concerned district.
This distinction allows a person whose permanent address is in one district to apply in another district after satisfying the required residence condition.
For example, a person permanently registered in Pokhara may potentially apply in Kathmandu after establishing the required residence in Kathmandu. The applicant should be prepared to provide whatever evidence the court requires to verify the residence.
A couple should not assume that merely staying temporarily for a short period automatically satisfies Section 77. Before filing, it is advisable to confirm the residence evidence accepted by the particular District Court.
The documents required for court marriage in Nepal depend on the applicants' nationality, marital history, residence and other circumstances. Section 77 itself requires the application to contain personal information, including names, surnames, ages, addresses, professions, parents' and grandparents' names, previous marriage information and details of at least two witnesses.
For a typical Nepali couple, the document file may include:
The official Civil Procedure Rules also contain a prescribed application form for marriage by registration. The form records personal details, photographs, birth information, permanent and current addresses, occupation, parents' and grandparents' names, and previous-marriage information. The official form also refers to the prescribed fee.
Foreign-national cases can require additional documents, including passport, evidence of marital status, embassy documents, translations and authentication, depending on nationality and circumstances.
Court marriage requires compliance with the substantive requirements of marriage under Nepalese law as well as the registration procedure. The National Civil Code, 2074 contains the principal marriage provisions in Sections 67 through 84.
The applicants must be legally capable of marrying. In general, the law requires the parties to have completed the legally prescribed marriage age, give consent, and satisfy the conditions concerning existing marriage and prohibited relationships.
The court registration procedure does not remove these substantive requirements. A couple cannot make an otherwise prohibited marriage valid simply by filing an application before the District Court.
The court examines the application before proceeding. Section 78 requires the concerned authority to make the decision, after necessary inquiry, within seven days of filing as to whether the marriage is capable of being concluded.
Accordingly, applicants should verify their age, marital status, consent, relationship restrictions and supporting documents before submitting the court marriage application.
The court marriage process in Nepal begins with preparation of the required application and supporting documents. Section 77 requires the application to contain specified personal and family information and the names of at least two witnesses.
The general process is:
Under Section 79, after the authority decides that the marriage can be concluded, a deed of consent is prepared. The parties and witnesses sign it in the presence of the concerned officer, who also signs it.
The statutory timeline and the practical timeline are not always identical. Section 78 of the National Civil Code provides that the concerned authority must make a decision within seven days of filing after necessary inquiry as to whether the marriage can be concluded.
This seven-day period should not automatically be understood as a guaranteed certificate-issuance period in every practical situation. Document verification, missing documents, court workload, residence verification and issues involving foreign nationals can affect the overall process.
The 15-day residence requirement must also be completed before filing. Therefore, couples who have not yet satisfied that requirement need to account for the residence period before the application can be submitted.
A properly prepared Nepali application may proceed relatively quickly after filing, but applicants should not rely on an assumed same-day result unless the concerned court confirms the practical procedure. Foreign-national cases can take longer because of additional documents and verification.
The prescribed application form under the Muluki Civil Procedure Rules, 2075 states a fee of NPR 500 for an application for marriage by registration. The official Nepal Law Commission publication of the Rules includes the prescribed form and expressly records the NPR 500 fee.
This should be distinguished from the total amount a couple may spend during the entire court marriage process. Government or administrative costs associated with obtaining documents, copies, translations or certifications may arise depending on the circumstances.
Lawyer fees are also separate from the statutory court fee. A couple representing itself may not incur professional legal fees, while a couple using a law firm may pay for document preparation, legal advice, filing assistance and court representation.
Because fees and administrative charges can change, applicants should obtain an official receipt and confirm current charges with the concerned District Court or relevant government office before payment.
The total cost of court marriage in Nepal depends on whether the couple handles the process independently, requires additional government documents, or hires a lawyer. The NPR 500 statutory application fee should not be confused with every possible expense associated with the process.
Possible additional expenses include:
For two Nepali citizens with straightforward documents, the total out-of-pocket cost may remain relatively low. Cases involving a foreign national can cost substantially more because foreign documents may require translation, certification and embassy-related procedures.
There is no single legally prescribed total cost applicable to every court marriage case. A lawyer should separate government fees from professional fees and third-party expenses when providing a quotation.
The District Court is the principal authority for marriage by registration when the applicants are in Nepal. Section 77 expressly directs applicants to the concerned District Court. Sections 78 to 80 then establish the decision, consent and registration stages.
Other authorities may become involved depending on the applicants' circumstances. For example, ward offices may issue supporting personal-status or residence documents. Foreign nationals may need to obtain documents from their embassy or competent authority in addition to documents issued in Nepal.
The Nepal Law Commission publishes the National Civil Code, Civil Procedure Code and related legislation, while the District Courts administer the relevant court procedures.
For applicants outside Nepal, Section 77 provides for filing at a Nepali embassy or consulate general in the relevant country.
After filing the application, the concerned authority examines whether the proposed marriage satisfies the legal requirements. Section 78 requires necessary inquiry and a decision within seven days about whether the marriage is capable of being concluded.
If the authority determines that the marriage can proceed, Section 79 requires preparation of a deed of consent. The deed records the relevant information and the parties' consent to accept each other as spouses. The contracting parties and witnesses sign the deed in the presence of the concerned officer.
Section 80 then provides for registration in the marriage registration book. The authority, parties and witnesses sign the registration book. Following registration, the authority issues the marriage registration certificate. The marriage is deemed concluded between the applicants from the date the marriage registration certificate is obtained.
Thus, the certificate is a significant final document in the court marriage process.
A complete court marriage checklist can help prevent delays caused by missing documents or incorrect jurisdiction. The couple should confirm both legal eligibility and procedural requirements before appearing at the District Court.
Before filing, check:
The application should accurately state the information required by Section 77. The official prescribed application form also records personal, address, family and previous-marriage information.
A court marriage lawyer in Nepal can assist with legal eligibility, document review, application preparation, residence requirements and District Court procedure. Legal assistance is not necessarily required for every straightforward case, but it can be useful where the documentation or legal circumstances are complicated.
A lawyer may be particularly helpful when:
A law firm can review the documents before filing rather than waiting for a problem at the court counter. Fairmont Law Firm in Nepal can provide legal assistance concerning court marriage, marriage registration, document preparation, legal advice and District Court procedures, subject to the facts and documents of the particular case.
The principal law governing court marriage is the National Civil Code, 2074 (Muluki Civil Code, 2074). Its marriage provisions include Sections 67 to 84, with Sections 76 to 80 specifically addressing marriage registration and marriage by registration.
Section 77 establishes where the application is filed and the 15-day residence requirement. Section 78 governs the authority's decision following inquiry. Section 79 governs the consent deed, while Section 80 governs registration and issuance of the marriage registration certificate.
The Muluki Civil Procedure Rules, 2075 also contain the prescribed application format for marriage by registration and specify the fee shown in that form.
Applicants should rely on the current statutory provisions and applicable court procedures rather than assuming that practices at one District Court automatically apply identically in every case.
You file an application for marriage by registration at the concerned District Court when you are in Nepal. Section 77 of the National Civil Code, 2074 establishes this requirement. The selected District Court must also satisfy the statutory residence requirement because either applicant or both applicants must have resided in that district for at least 15 days before filing.
Yes. You do not necessarily have to file in the district shown as your permanent address. Section 77(2) permits filing where either applicant or both have resided for at least 15 days in the concerned district. You should retain acceptable evidence of that residence and confirm the District Court's documentary requirements before submitting the application.
At least one applicant must have resided in the concerned district for 15 days before filing the court marriage application. Section 77(2) expressly provides this requirement. The residence period applies to an application filed in a District Court in Nepal. Applicants should verify what evidence the court requires to establish that the statutory residence condition has been satisfied.
Documents vary according to nationality and circumstances, but applicants generally need identity documents, photographs, residence evidence, marital-status documents and information concerning previous marriages where applicable. The application must also provide the personal and family information specified in Section 77 and identify at least two witnesses. Foreign-national cases may require additional embassy, translation and authentication documents.
The prescribed application form under the Muluki Civil Procedure Rules, 2075 records NPR 500 as the fee for an application for marriage by registration. The total cost can be higher because applicants may incur expenses for photographs, documents, copies, translations, notarisation and legal services. Lawyer fees are separate from the statutory court fee.
Section 78 provides that the concerned authority must make a decision within seven days of filing, after necessary inquiry, about whether the marriage can be concluded. The overall practical timeline can be longer because the couple must first satisfy the 15-day residence requirement and may need additional document verification. Foreign-national cases can require further processing.
Section 77 requires the marriage-by-registration application to specify the names of at least two witnesses. The same witnesses are involved in the subsequent consent and registration process under Sections 79 and 80, where the parties and witnesses sign the relevant documents and registration book. Applicants should bring witnesses who satisfy the court's identification and documentation requirements.
Foreign nationals may be able to register marriage in Nepal if they satisfy the applicable legal and procedural requirements. Section 77 applies to marriage by registration in Nepal, while foreign-national cases can require additional documents from the applicant's country and embassy. Residence, marital-status evidence, translation and authentication requirements should be confirmed before filing because they vary according to circumstances.
The main law is the National Civil Code, 2074 (Muluki Civil Code, 2074). Sections 77 to 80 establish the core procedure for marriage by registration, including filing, inquiry, consent and registration. The Muluki Civil Procedure Rules, 2075 provide procedural forms and related requirements. The current versions of these laws should be checked before filing.
Yes. A lawyer can assist with document review, eligibility assessment, application preparation, residence-related issues, filing procedures and court appearances where permitted. Legal assistance can be particularly useful for foreign-national marriages, previous marriages, disputed documents or complicated jurisdiction issues. The lawyer's professional fee is separate from the government court fee and other document-related expenses.
Subscribe for a monthly briefing on Nepal's corporate law, regulatory developments, and firm insights.
Download a PDF copy of this publication to read offline or share with colleagues.
Download PDFInsights
