New Delhi, Oct. 9 -- If you have married according to religious customs and rituals but have not registered your marriage, does your marriage still have legal validity?

While a marriage certificate can serve as important proof of marital status, the legal implications of non-registration depend on the applicable laws and the circumstances of the marriage. Here is what experts say about marriage registration in India.

No.

Amitraj Kaushal, Advocate at the Supreme Court of India, said the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, provides for registration under Section 8, while the Special Marriage Act, 1954, governs other civil marriages.

"The Supreme Court in Seema v. Ashwani Kumar emphasised compulsory registration of marriages. State rules differ in...