What legal documents are required to get married?

The couple getting married will need to plan just about everything from the catering to deciding on the format of the ceremony and who will perform it.

Usually shortly before the ceremony, both of the people getting married are required to present certain legal documents to the Marriage Officer (a person authorised to do so in terms of the South African Marriage Act of 1961).

A summary of the required documents:

South African Citizen   

Valid Identity Document                                    

Foreign National                                                

Valid Passport and a completed BI-31 Form (Declaration for the Purpose of Marriage, Letter of no impediment)

Divorced Person 

Final Decree of Divorce

Widowed Person 

Deceased Spouse's Death Certificate. 

Female Minor 15 to 18 years old 

Written permission to marry from both parents/guardians or the Commissioner of Child Welfare or a Judge, on a properly completed DHA-31 form (available from the Department of Home Affairs). 

Male Minor Under 18 or Female Minor under 15 

Written permission as above as well as written consent from the Minister of Home Affairs.