A Will is a legal document, by which one’s desires after his death can be performed. It is basically a document, whereby the property can be disposed of according to one’s liking, after his death. Else, in its absence, the property is inherited by the legal heirs according to the local laws of inheritance. In India, Hindu Succesion Act, 1956 deals with the matter of Inheritance among Hindus and Indian Succession Act, 1925 is applicable to others, except Muslims. ‘Will’ is defined under section 2(h) of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 as the legal declaration of the intention of a testator with respect to his property which he desires to be carried into effect after his death. The most important characteristic of a Will, is its revokable nature. The person who makes the Will is called ‘Testator’. Essentials of Will are as under :

• Must be in writing.
• It need not be on Stamp Paper.
• No particular form or language, but language should be simple, which can be understood by layman even.
• Handwritten Will in Testator’s handwriting is also acceptable, if its legible. Though typed Will is desirable.
• Testator should indicate that the Will is made voluntarily.
• Will should provide for appointment of Executor and schedule of properties.
• Most importantly, the Will should be signed by the Testator and attested by atleast two witnesses.
• Lastly, Registration of Will is not compulsory.

Ofcourse, Registration of a Will is not compulsory but it is desirable. Because a registered Will is kept in Safe Custody at the Office of the Registrar and therefore cannot be tampered with, destrotyed, or lost as can’t be accessed except under written permission. A Will is required to be registered at the office of the Sub-Registrar. The Witness need to acWill the Testator. But in case of incapacity of the Testator, the Registrar is required to visit the Testator’s place on a special application made in this behalf.

Voter ID Card is issued by State Governments under the Authorization of Election Commission, to Indian Citizens, who are atleast 18 years of age and eligible to vote. It serves the identification purpose not only at the time of voting but can also be used as identity & address proof before various government departments and private Organizations. It can sefely be submitted as address proof to Banks, Telephone Department, Electricity Company, Licencing Authority, Income Tax Department, etc.
The Voter ID card details can be checked online and also through some state portals, the Voter ID card can be applied online…

• Delhi: http://ceodelhi.gov.in/OnlineErms/login.aspx
• Karnataka: http://voterreg.kar.nic.in/
• Kerala: http://www.ceo.kerala.gov.in/eregistration.html
• Andhra Pradesh: http://ceoaperms.ap.gov.in/ERMS/Eregistrationnew/userdetails_new.aspx

The Voter ID card application requires you to fill up basic details like Name, Date of Birth, Address, Gender, Father’s Name, etc. You can download Voter ID form from here

In India, a marriage can be registered under either the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (applicable to Hindus only) or the Special Marriage Act, 1954. A Marriage is compulsorily required to be registered in respective state/union territories in accordance with the judgment by Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Smt. Seema Vs. Ashwani Kumar (2006)  but the same has been not implemented by all the states. Though, recently in May 2014, Delhi Government directed for compulsory registration of marriages solemnized in the respective state / union territories.

Accordingly Delhi Government has issued directors an Order called The Delhi (Compulsory Registration of Marriage) Order, 2014 and shall extend to all marriages that solemnized in Delhi irrespective of caste, creed & religion. The parties to marriage shall apply jointly in the prescribed form for registration of their marriage with in a period of 60 days of their marriage and delay upto next 60 days can be condone by the Marriage officer. Penalty provisions also provided for non registration of marriage with in the prescribed time period.

The Marriage Registration also acts as a proof of marriage before different authorities like Area Magistrate, Passport Office, Banks, etc.  The following documents are required for the registration of marriage:

• Application form completed in all respect, signed by both Husband & Wife.
• Proof of residence.
• Separate affidavit in prescribed format from Husband & Wife.
• Date of birth proofs of both parties.
• Two passport size photograph of both and one marriage photograph.
• Marriage invitation card if available.

On making the application, another date is provided to the parties to appear before the Registrar, who is also an SDM of the area. The parties need to bring some witness along, who has attended the marriage and can witness the same in the presence of the Registrar.

Foreigner Registration in India is governed by the Registration of Foreigners Act 1939 read with Registration of Foreigners Rules 1992. Sction 6 of the said Rules laid down as follows:

“Every foreigner entering India or resident in India shall present in person or through an authorised representative to the appropriate Registration Officer specified in Rules, a report (herein after-referred to as a registration report) within the time specified in that rule:

Provided that no such report shall be necessary in the case of a foreigner who enters India on a visa for a period of not more than one hundred and eighty days and who does not remain in India beyond the said period.”

That implies that all the foreigners visiting India for more than 180 days, need to present himself before the concerned foreigner’s registration officer and will be required to get themselves registered within 14 days of his first arrival, irrespective of the duration of their stay. The said registration is VISA based and would be valid for a period of his stay in India, though no fees is payable, except that penalty is levied in over-staying cases beyond that period or on delayed registrations.

The Foreigner Registration Offices are located at various major cities in India like Delhi, Kolkatta, Mumbai, Amritsar, Chennai, etc.

Employment Registration India – An Employment Exchange is an organisation that provides employment assistance on the basis of qualification and experience. The Departments of Employment in various States of India allow unemployed educated youth residing in the respective States to pre-register for impending job vacancies occurring in different sectors of that State. The registered job seekers, in many States, can also check their status on the job waiting-list online. They also allow job seekers to search for suitable jobs and to update their resume. Employers can post their vacancies with these exchanges and choose from among the registered candidates as per their requirements.

Unemployed persons as well as currently employed persons looking for more suitable jobs can register with the Employment Exchanges operating in their States to avail of job opportunities.

Fill up the required application form, which is either available online or with the Employment Exchange in your area of residence. You need to submit attested photocopies of all your educational and experience-related certificates along with your resume, Caste Certificate (optional) and photographs, and produce identity documents such as Voter’s Identity Card or Ration Card or Passport or Birth Certificate or Domicile Certificate, at the Employment Exchange operating in your region. After registration, you will be issued a registration number.

Death Registration India – In India, it is mandatory under the Registration of Births & Deaths Act, 1969 to register every death with the concerned State/UT Government within 21 days of its occurrence. Death Certificate is issued by the local Municipal Authority, certifying the fact and date of Death. A Death registration is not only compulsory but it is essential to prove date and time of death, thereby relieving relatives from various social and legal obligations. Also helps in claiming insurance and right in property of the deceased.

As death in a Hospital is reported by the medical officer to the Municipal Authorities directly and in case of death in a house, the head of the family can report and get it registered with the local authorities. In case, the death is not registered within 21 days of its occurence, then permission from Area Magistrate is required to be sought.

The acknowledgement of registration received by the registrant can be carried by any member of the family to the office of the Municipal authority and certificates can be applied on the payment of prescribed fees. The death certificate is issued within 2-3 days time.

Every Birth is reported and registered within 21 days of Birth. Generally, the Birth takes place in an Hospital or a Nursing Home, therefore it is automatically reported by the Authorized Medical Officer of the Hospital to the Local Municipal Authorities. Otherwise the incharge of the place, where the Birth has taken place, can provide the information to the Local Authority in the prescribed format.

A parent can visit local municipal office with the registration number provided by the Hospital, on registration of Birth. And can apply for as many Birth certificates to the Local Municipal Authorities on the payment of fees per certificate, which is normally Rs 10-20. Ofcourse, the computerization of the Municipal offices, has simplified the Birth Registration procedure to a great extent.

In exceptional circumstances, i.e. beyond 1 year of birth, Birth can be registered on the order of Area Magistrate, on affidavit and payment of late fee. And in case, some error is made on behalf of Hospital at the time of registration of Birth with respect to Name of Parents, address, etc. Then the parent is required to apply for correction under Affidavit attested by Area Magistrate.