Marriage

Where do both persons live?

Both persons live in Westminster

As long as both persons have lived in Westminster for more than 7 days they can give legal notice of their intended marriage. Each person must attend the Register Office, in person, to give their own notice of marriage although this does not have to be at the same time.

They must be married within one year of giving the legal notice and they must wait at least 15 clear days from the date they give the notice before getting married.

If one person has not yet lived in Westminster for 7 days the couple must wait to fulfil the 7 day residence requirement. This period of residence can only be reduced in circumstances where one of the persons getting married is terminally ill.

One person lives in Westminster and the other in another district in England and Wales

If the person living in Westminster has been resident for 7 days and the other person has lived in their district for 7 days as well the notice of marriage can be given in both districts.

The authorities to enable the marriage to take place can be issued after 15 clear days and a document will be issued from each district. The marriage must take place within 1 year of giving the first notice of marriage.

Both persons living in England and Wales but neither in Westminster

The persons must give legal notice of their intention to marry in the districts in which they live. If they live in the same district, and have lived in that district for at least 7 days, each person must give individual notice of their intention to marry. They then have to wait at least 15 clear days before the marriage can proceed and the marriage must take place within 1 year of giving the first notice.

If they live in different districts, and both have lived there for at least 7 days, notice must be given individually in both districts. It is necessary for each person to attend their own register office. It is not possible for notice to be given in both districts by one person.

The documents to allow the marriage to proceed can be issued after 15 clear days from the date of giving notice.

One person living in Westminster and the other is not in England and Wales

Notice of intended marriage cannot be given until the party living outside the country has arrived.

They must then wait 7 days in order that the person arriving from abroad can establish residence in England and Wales. Notice of marriage can then be given but they must wait 15 clear days before the marriage can take place. This means the minimum time lapse between arriving in the country and getting married is 23 days.