Q. Could the giving of the kesuva to the kalah be considered as kidushin?

A. Orchois Chaim (beginning of Hilchos Kesuvos) suggests that the giving of the kesuva to the kallah in front of the witnesses constitutes an act of Kidushei Shtar or kidushin done with a document since the kesuva does contain the wording of kidushin. The fact that some Poskim do not require the giving of the kesuva directly to the kallah but consider the acceptance of her relatives as sufficient, would seem to contradict the above (Hanessuin Kehilchoson 11: 223 n.555.)

Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that not only is this second act of kidushin unnecessary but also ineffective, since the chosson and the kallah are unaware of it and the kesuva was not written with the intention of kidushin. However, the Mesiras Hakesuvah per se, as part of the Kesuvah ceremony is correct.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a