Blockchain based marriage registry

Abstract

This project aims to develop a proof of concept for a blockchain based marriage registry with a web based front end to interact with the blockchain. The purpose is to explore the feasibility of a blockchain based marriage registry and to compare the advantages and disadvantages of a blockchain based registry versus current systems. The Agile methodology was used to break the project down into smaller, more manageable tasks that can be delivered in short cycles. Primary research was done primarily via interviews with family and friends about their marriage registration process and also secondary research to see if these anecdotal experiences were generalizable. The registry was built in a way to fit existing processes and mental models as much as possible so that the benefits of blockchain can be reaped while minimizing the disruptiveness of such a shift. The registry that was built could make the marriage registration process more efficient, even for more complex cases like transferring a marriage record from another country that usually involves endorsements from the embassies before being ratified. It takes much less time to issue the marriage certificate and can be done in minutes compared to the days it takes current systems and even longer if physical mailing is involved. Storing such records is also safer in a distributed and decentralised blockchain and more persistent than a paper based certificate. Accessibility is also greatly increased and can be accessed with an internet connection even without logging into one’s wallet, compared to logging into a government site and having to pay a fee to search the registry. It also increases interoperability as standards are publicly available and the composability of public blockchain applications means that the marriage data could be used by other applications. Such applications could include decentralised life insurance policies that pays out to the spouse even if the other spouse forgot to make a nomination or wallets that implement a will, where if a wallet hasn’t made a transaction in a certain amount of time, the funds held in it can be automatically transferred or claimed by the spouse listed in the registry. The registry also includes functionality to manage officiants, who are key personnel involved in the marriage registration process. It increases the transparency and ease of finding and verifying an officiant for couples. A blockchain based registry has the potential to improve the efficiency, persistence, security, interoperability and composability of such systems. There still remains work to be done like a better user interface, implementing divorce logic and managing those with authority to preside over divorces such as lawyers and judges. These functionalities can be built with enough time and as blockchains keep evolving.