Civil Celebrants of Marriages Scheme

DOs and DON'Ts

DOs

1. Do make sure the marital condition given on the notice is correct.
2. Do remind the marrying party to declare his/her marital condition in writing and by circling the appropriate description on the marital condition column.
3. Do remind the marrying party to sign on the marital condition column when he/she gives the notice. The signature should be identical to the one appended at the lowest part of the notice.
4. Do submit translation document when the divorce certificate is not in Chinese or English.
5. Do make sure the required supporting documents are in order for cases where parent's consent is required.
6. Do make sure that the residential address on Part I is a partial address showing only the name of building, street/road and district.
7. Do make sure that the affirmation (3) of the affidavit on page 2 is properly deleted where inappropriate.

DON'Ts

1. Don't miss the signature of the civil celebrant of marriage ("civil celebrant") and the date of making the affidavit.
2. Don't miss the signature of the marrying party who gives the notice.
3. Don't miss the date of intended marriage.
4. Don't use any notice that is not allotted to the civil celebrant taking such notice.
5. Don't miss any English version of the residential address and parents' names.

DOs

1. Do make sure the registration number is correctly printed on the certificate of marriage and the duplicate certificate of marriage. [The registration number is a unique number allotted to each application, which is in the format of two alphabets following by four numerals. It is provided at the lowest part of the certificate of the Registrar.]
2. Do make sure the marital conditions of the marrying parties are correctly input on the certificate of marriage and the duplicate certificate of marriage.
3. Do confirm the accuracy of the names of the marrying parties, parents of the marrying parties and the civil celebrant.
4. Do prepare and sign the certificate of marriage and the duplicate certificate of marriage one after the other.
5. Do make sure the full name of the officiating civil celebrant and title "Civil Celebrant of Marriages" are printed on the certificate of marriage and the duplicate certificate of marriage.
6. Do ensure to transmit the duplicate certificate of marriage to the Registrar within 7 days after the marriage according to section 21(7) (a) (iii) of the Marriage Ordinance ("Cap 181"). [Under section 31(2) (b) of Cap 181, a Civil Celebrant of Marriages who fails to do so shall be guilty of an offence.]

DON'Ts

1. Don't miss the official stamp/embossing seal of the civil celebrant.
2. Don't place a carbon paper between the certificate of marriage and the duplicate certificate of marriage when preparing or signing them.
3. Don't make any alteration or amendment on the prepared certificate of marriage and duplicate certificate of marriage. An erroneously prepared certificate of marriage and duplicate certificate of marriage shall be cancelled (in set). A new set of certificates should be prepared and thoroughly checked to ensure to have no error before officiating the marriage.
4. Don't use the certificates of marriage and the duplicate certificates of marriage that are not allotted to the civil celebrant celebrating the marriage.

DOs

1. Do ensure to return the original declaration (MR 65) signed by the marrying parties and the supporting documents together with the duplicate certificate of marriage within seven days after the marriage according to section 21(7) (a) (iii) of Cap 181. [Under section 31(2) (b) of Cap 181, a Civil Celebrant of Marriages who fails to do so shall be guilty of an offence.]
2. Do make sure that supporting documents have been properly certified by the civil celebrant.

DON'Ts

1. Don't miss the signature of the civil celebrant or the marrying party on the declaration form (MR 65).
2. Don't miss the signature of the marrying parties on the acknowledgement part of the declaration form (MR65).

D ) Others

DOs

1. Do make sure to collect the certificate of the Registrar from the CCM Sub-section and forward it as soon as practicable to either of the proposed parties according to section 9(1E) of Cap 181. [Under section 31A (4) of Cap 181, a civil celebrant fails to do so shall be guilty of an offence.]
2. Do provide a copy of the Code of Practice for Civil Celebrants of Marriages and an information leaflet prepared by the Registrar to the proposed parties according to paragraph 10 of the Code of Practice.
3. Do confirm in writing (together with a copy of the certificate of the Registrar) if a proposed marriage is not celebrated within three months.
4. Do ensure that the form of ceremony does not prejudice the solemnity of marriage and it allows parties to make clear, audible statement when required to do so under Cap 181.

DON'T

1. Don't celebrate a marriage before the Certificate of the Registrar is received.
2. Don't celebrate a marriage when the Certificate of the Registrar has expired.
3. Don't make any alteration or amendment on the certificate of marriage and duplicate certificate of marriage after the marriage has been solemnized. [Only the Registrar may correct clerical errors on the certificates according to section 25 of Cap 181.]
4. Don't replace the certificate of marriage and duplicate certificate of marriage by another set of certificates once they have been signed and authenticated.