Marriage

When do you want to get married?

We want to get married as soon as possible

The law specifies that the minimum waiting time between giving notice of intended marriage and getting married is 15 clear days. Both parties to the marriage must also have lived in their respective districts for at least 7 days before notice of marriage is given. Each person must attend, in person, the Register Office for the district in which they live to give their notice of marriage.

If the marriage is to be by civil ceremony, either in a Register Office or Approved Premises, it is not necessary for either of the parties to live in the district where the marriage is to be held. However, notice of marriage must be given in the district/s in which the couple live.

The only exception is where one of the persons getting married is terminally ill. In these circumstances the marriage can take place very quickly, sometimes on the same day that the arrangements have been made, and the marriage can take place at home, in a hospital or any other place where the party who is terminally ill happens to be.

In exceptional circumstances the Registrar General can reduce the 15 day waiting period on application by the persons getting married. This application attracts a consideration fee, likely to be £28, for each notice of marriage and there is no guarantee that an application will be successful. The Registrar General has made it clear that the reasons for reducing the waiting period will have to be good and has already stated that the fact of persons arriving from abroad and wanting to be married whilst on holiday will not be sufficient reason to reduce the waiting period. Information on making application to reduce the waiting period should be made to your local Register Office.

We want to get married within the next year

You will need to give legal notice of your intended marriage in the district/s in which you both live.

This will require each of you to attend the Register Office of the district in which you live, provided that both of you has lived in that district for at least 7 days before the notice of marriage is given.

If you live in separate districts you need to give individual notices in both those districts, provided that both of you has lived in your respective districts for the 7 days before giving notice.

If the marriage is to be by civil ceremony, either in a Register Office or Approved Premises, it is not necessary to live in the district where the marriage is to be held. However, notice of marriage must be given in the Register Office or offices for the district/s in which you have lived for the 7 days prior to giving the notice. The marriage can then take place after 15 clear days, from the date of giving the later notice. The marriage must take place within 1 year from the date of giving the first notice.