giving notice of marriage

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Entering notice of marriage

If you wish to marry in a civil ceremony, it is a legal requirement that you enter notice of your intention to marry. Notice must be given at least 15 clear days before the marriage ceremony can take place. Before entering notice you should know which specific venue you wish to be married at. 

If you or your partner are subject to immigration control, important new legislation came into effect on 1 February 2005. Before you make an appointment to enter notice, please read the Home Office's website on rules for marrying or registering a civil partnership in the U.K.

What do we need to do next?

If you live in Brighton & Hove please telephone us on (01273) 294421 to make an appointment to see one of the Superintendent Registrars. If you do not live in Brighton & Hove and are not subject to immigration control, we will be happy to tell you which Register Office you need to contact.

When you attend your appointment we will need to see:

  • Current passports and birth certificates. If you are subject to immigration control we will need to see your marriage/fiance visa or your certificate of approval to marry.
  • Proof of your address - such as a council tax bill, utilities bill or bank statement.
  • Original documentary evidence showing how any previous marriages have ended
  • If you divorced in England or Wales we will need to see a court stamped decree absolute
  • If you divorced in a foreign country we will need to see the original documents issued by that country. If the documents are in a foreign language we will also need to see an English translation. Please note there may be a possibility that these documents will need to be cleared by the General Register Office before the marriage can take place.
  • If either of you is widowed we will need to see a certified copy of your late partner's death certificate
  • Original documentary evidence showing how names have been changed (if applicable)

 

The appointment should last for approximately half an hour. Please note if you arrive for your appointment without the above documents then we may not be able to take your notice of marriage. Please also note that if you change your mind about the location of your marriage once notice has been entered, fresh notices will need to be given.
For further information please contact us on (01273) 294421


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