Giving notice is not the same as booking your marriage or civil partnership.
- It is a legal process you must complete at your local register office at least 29 days before getting married or forming a civil partnership.
- You must book as early as possible, as appointments are limited.
- Your notice is valid for 12 months, but becomes invalid if you change the register office, licensed venue or religious building.
Different legal processes apply for Church of England ceremonies or those outside England and Wales.
Giving notice of marriage or civil partnership involves attending an appointment at a register office to complete the legal paperwork confirming your intention to marry or form a civil partnership.
Your appointment lasts 20 minutes per person.
During your appointment, you will be asked to confirm:
- Where in England or Wales you plan to marry or form a civil partnership. This must be a register office, licensed venue, or religious building.
- That you are over 18 years of age.
- That you are not already married or in a civil partnership.
- Who you plan to marry or form a civil partnership with, and that you are not closely related.
When to give notice
- You must both give your notices at least 29 days prior to your marriage or civil partnership date and know where you are holding your marriage or civil partnership (register office, licensed venue, or religious building).
- Your notice is valid for 12 months and becomes invalid if you change the location of the register office, licensed venue, or religious building.
If you are subject to immigration control, your proposed marriage or civil partnership may be referred to the Home Office. They may decide to extend your notice period from 29 days to 70 days. You should take this into account when making your arrangements.
Where to give notice
You usually need to make an appointment to give notice at your local register office. You must have lived in that registration district for at least eight days before giving notice there.
If you live in different registration districts and are not subject to immigration control, you must give notice separately within the district in which you live. You do not need to do this on the same day.
If you are subject to immigration control, or have indefinite leave to remain in the UK, you and your partner must give notice together at a register office in the district where at least one of you lives.
- If you live in a Surrey borough, you must book your appointment to give notice at any Surrey register office.
- If you live outside a Surrey borough, you must book your appointment to give notice at a register office in the district where you live.
Who is subject to immigration control?
You are subject to immigration control unless one or more of the following apply:
- You are a British or Irish citizen.
- You have indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
- You have settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union (EU) Settlement Scheme.
- You applied to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) before 30 June 2021 and are waiting for a decision.
- You have diplomatic status, a right of abode, or armed forces visiting status.
Documents you must bring
You must bring original documents to your appointment. Photocopies are not accepted.
You must both bring the required documents or you will need to book another appointment.
Extra documents may be needed if you are from outside the UK or Ireland, or if you have been married or in a civil partnership before.
If your documents are not in English, you will need to bring the originals and a full translation. The translation must include any stamps and signatures and be signed by the translator, with their name and address, to confirm it’s accurate. The translation must be carried out by a third party.
If you do not speak English, you must bring an interpreter (you cannot translate for each other).
Required documents you must bring:
- Details of the register office, licensed venue, or religious building where you intend to marry or form your civil partnership.
- A valid passport or UK birth certificate (if you were born after 1 January 1983, you will also need evidence of your parents' nationalities, for example their birth certificates).
- Proof of any name changes (for example, a deed poll).
- Proof of your current address.
To prove your address, you must bring one of the following:
- Valid full or provisional UK driving licence showing your current address.
- Gas, water, or electricity bill dated no more than three months at the time of your appointment.
- Bank or building society statement within the last month.
- Council Tax bill for the current year.
- Mortgage statement from the last 12 months.
- Current tenancy agreement.
If you are unable to provide any of the above, please contact us.
Additional documents will be required if one of the following apply:
If you or your partner is from outside the UK or Ireland, you will also need to bring:
- Proof of your current immigration status. If you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you must bring a valid eVisa share code to your notice appointment. The code is valid for 30 days.
- UK passport sized photo for each of you (even if only one of you is from outside the UK or Ireland).
If you or your partner where previously married or in a civil partnership, you will need to provide one of the following:
- A decree absolute or final order papers bearing the original court stamp.
- If your divorce took place outside of the British Isles, your divorce or final order papers. These vary from country to country and it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documents.
- If your previous partner has passed away, a copy of their death certificate.
- Your previous marriage or civil partnership certificate(s) where your current name does not appear on the decree absolute, final order or death certificate.
If your documents are not in English, you will need to bring the originals and a full translation. The translation must include any stamps and signatures and be signed by the translator, with their name and address, to confirm it is accurate. The translation must be carried out by a third party.
Fees
- Your notice of marriage or civil partnership fee is £46.50 per person, or
- if your notice of marriage or civil partnership is referred to the Home Office, it is £63 per person.
If your last marriage was dissolved or annulled, and your divorce document was issued outside the British Isles it will need to be validated by Surrey Registration Service or the General Register office. Please see: Documents you'll need to give notice (GOV.UK) for more information.
The fees are as follows:
- £55 if the documents can be cleared by the Surrey Registration Service, or
- £83 if the documents require referral to the General Register Office (GRO).
Book your appointment
You must book as early as possible, as appointments are limited.
You can book your appointment online:
Book your notice of marriage appointment
Book your notice of civil partnership appointment
Contact us
If you have an enquiry, please contact us.
Personalise your marriage or civil partnership
Once you have booked your appointment, you can continue to personalise your marriage or civil partnership.