Follow our advice below about giving Notice.
Marriages in The Church of England or The Church in Wales
If you are going to get married in a Church of England or a Church in Wales, normally the vicar will call the banns during the 3 months before the date of your marriage. Usually there is no need to involve the Register Office. However, in certain circumstances the vicar will choose not to call the banns and will advise you both to contact us in order to give Notice of Marriage
Churches other than The Church of England or The Church in Wales
Before getting married you will need to give Notice of Marriage at the Register Office within the district where you live.
Being married or forming a partnership if you are unwell
If you wish to be married or form a partnership, but either you or your partner are too ill to attend a Register Office or church, it may be more appropriate to arrange for a ceremony to be held at home or in hospital. Please contact the Register Office for a confidential discussion of your circumstances.
Giving a Notice of Marriage or Civil Partnership
Giving Notice means that you are making a declaration that you are both willing and free in law to marry (each other) or form a civil partnership. This will require you both to attend a Register Office in person to produce certain documents. You will need to make an appointment.
In most cases you should give your Notice in the district of your usual residence. This may therefore be different offices for each of you. You must have lived there for at least seven consecutive full days before giving Notice which means you need to do it on the ninth day. It does not matter if you move out of the area once your Notice has been given. If you fail to give Notice the marriage or civil partnership cannot take place.
Requirements for Giving a Notice of Marriage or Civil Partnership
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If either of you is under 18 years of age the consent of your parents or guardians is required. A consent form is available from your Register Office. You cannot get married in this country under the age of 16
- Evidence of identity and of nationality is required. This will be either a passport or full birth certificate - includes parents' details. A driving licence is not sufficient
- Evidence of address, e.g. a recent utility bill, or recent bank or card statement
- If you have changed your name, evidence of how that was done e.g. a change of name deed
- If either of you has been married or formed a civil partnership before, you will need to provide documentary evidence to show how it ended, e.g. a decree absolute or a death certificate. Each party who has been married and then divorced must hold a decree absolute before either party can give notice.
- All documents must be originals or certified copies
- A non-refundable statutory fee of £35 each is payable to the Register Office for giving Notice
- Notices must be given in person
- If you both live in different districts you should try to give your Notices within 7 days of each other
- You can give Notice up to 12 months in advance of the date of your marriage or civil partnership
- If either of you is a foreign national, please see the section on Immigration Control
- If the ceremony is abroad you will still need to give a form of Notice. Please contact the Register Office for further information
After you have given Notice
- You must wait at least 16 clear days with the authorities being issued on 17th day.
- These are legal documents that permit the wedding or civil partnership to go ahead and are valid for 12 months from the date that you gave Notice
- If you are marrying in another registration district, it is your responsibility to ensure that the certificates of authority are received by that district, prior to the marriage taking place
- If you are forming a civil partnership in another registration district, the registration staff will produce the necessary schedule for you
- If you change the venue of the ceremony, a fresh notice will have to be given and a further statutory fee paid
Further advice on overseas marriages and civil partnerships can be obtained from the General Register Office or call them on 0300 123 1837.
