Information for giving Notice of Marriage / Notice of Civil Partnership

Each person is legally responsible for giving their own notice of marriage / notice of civil partnership, in person, at the Register Office in the District where they have had their usual residence for at least 7 days prior to the date of notice. If you are unsure which District you should give notice to, it is the local authority area to which you pay your Council Tax. Notice can be given up to 12 months in advance of the date of marriage or civil partnership, however, a minimum of 28 clear days must pass before the marriage or civil partnership can take place.

If one or both of you is subject to immigration control, different regulations may apply. Please telephone the Register Office for further information.

You will need to make an appointment to give notice of marriage / civil partnership.

Your appointment is on……………………………………………………..at ………………………………

Documents / Information required when you attend your appointment to give notice of marriage / notice of civil partnership;

1. Fee

A fee of £35 (weekday appointments) or £47 (weekend appointments) is payable for each person’s notice of marriage - (cash, cheque or a credit or debit card)

2. Evidence of your name, age and nationality.

Please provide evidence from either section 1 or section 2 below

Section 1 / Section 2
Current valid passport / Full birth certificate*;
Please note that if you were born after the 1st January 1983 and you are
producing a birth certificate, you must also produce your mother’s birth certificate
or if your mother was married to your father at the time of birth, your father’s birth
certificate is acceptable together with a copy of their marriage certificate.
Or,
A Certificate of Registration/Naturalisation as a British Citizen granted by the Secretary of State*
* If producing either of the documents above you will also need to produce one of the additional documents below:
 utility bill dated within the last three months
 bank or building society statement or passbook dated within the last month
 council tax bill dated no more than one year before the date on which notice of marriage is given;
 mortgage statement dated no more than one year before the date on which notice of marriage is given;
 current residential tenancy agreement;
 valid United Kingdom driving licence (full or provisional)

3. Evidence of your current address;

Please provide one of the documents listed 2 below

Section 3
 utility bill dated within the last three months.
 bank or building society statement or passbook dated within the last month.
 council tax bill dated within the last year.
 mortgage statement dated within the last year.
 current residential tenancy agreement.
 valid United Kingdom driving licence.

4. Evidence of your change of name;

Please provide the documents listed below if applicable

Section 4
 Deed Poll
 Statutory Declaration

5. Documents required to provide evidence that you are free to marry / form a Civil Partnership

Section 5
If you have previously been married;
 Certificate of Decree Absolute - If you are divorced we must see your certificate of decree absolute issued by the County Court or Divorce Registry where the decree absolute was granted.
 If your divorce document was issued in a foreign country (i.e. outside of the British Isles), a full translation must be provided and a consideration fee will apply at the time of your appointment. If the document is considered at the Register Office the fee is £50. If documents have to be forwarded to the General Register Office to be considered the fee is £75.
 Marriage Certificate - If you have reverted to your maiden name or you are producing your birth certificate as evidence of your name and it does not correspond with the name on your decree absolute we will also need to see your previous marriage certificate.
 Death Certificate of Spouse – If you are widowed, we must see the death certificate of your late wife/husband. If you are not named as spouse on the death certificate, you will also need to bring your marriage certificate
If you have previously been in a Civil Partnership;
 Civil Partnership Dissolution document – if your previous civil partnership was dissolved, please bring the dissolution document form the Courts.
 Civil Partnership Certificate - If you have reverted to your name used prior to your civil partnership registration we will need to see your previous civil partnership certificate.
 Death Certificate of partner – if your previous civil partner has died please bring the death certificate with you.

If you are under 18 years of age you will need to obtain consent to marry. Please speak to a member of staff if this applies to you.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE CONSIDERED ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS IN SECTIONS 1-5 AS WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE YOUR NOTICE OF MARRIAGE / CIVIL PARTNERSHIP WITHOUT THEM. IF YOU CANNOT PROVIDE A DOCUMENT OR HAVE ANY QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT US PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT.

Please telephone us on 0345 4 852 888 if you have any queries.