Notice of Marriage and Civil Partnerships
We are currently receiving a high number of requests for notice appointments. The average wait time is two months. To avoid delays, please book your notice appointment before booking your ceremony. Appointment availability is very limited.
General Information
Giving notice is a legal requirement before all legal ceremonies. They are valid for one year from the date of notice and only for the venue listed in the notice.
There is a waiting period between giving notice and having a ceremony:
- Both British, Irish, people with EU Settled Status or indefinite leave to remain: 29 days.
- All others (even if only one of the couple): 72 days.
Go to linked advice for: government guidance, our fees, our terms and conditions.
Both parties must be free to enter the marriage or civil partnership by their own choice. Forced marriage is illegal. Further information can be found online.
Know the difference between a marriage and civil partnership.
What to bring
A full list of items can be found on the government’s website. All documents must be original and paper-based, as they may need to be provided in a court of law. All documents must also be in English or with official translation. We cannot provide for you and without, you will need to pay for a new appointment.
All customers:
- Current Valid Passports (expired passports, copies and ARC cards are not valid. If the Home Office have your passport, they must send a copy to us via email- we cannot accept your copy)
- Valid Proof of Address (see government website). 1 required, 2 recommended
All non-British/Irish customers:
- Evidence of immigration status: usually a share-code
If either you or your partner is not a British, Irish or a citizen with EUSS settled or EUSS pre-settled status, you will also need to bring:
- a passport sized photo for each person (even if only one of you is from outside the EU, EEA or from Switzerland)
- a translation of any documents that are not in English
If one of you have ever been divorced, widowed or changed your name:
- a decree absolute or final order
- your former partner’s death certificate
- You also need to bring proof of your divorce, annulment or dissolution if it was granted outside of the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, including a translation of any document not in English. There is a fee to check foreign divorces.
Making a Booking
Please ensure you have read and understood all of the above before making a booking as your notice booking fee is non-refundable in most cases, including late arrivals.
Make an appointment for Notice of Marriage
Make an appointment for Notice of Civil Partnership
Getting married abroad
If you wish to marry abroad, you may need a Certificate of No Impediment. Check with the authorities in the country where you wish to marry to ensure you have the correct documents. You may need to have this apostilled. We do not provide this service.
Please read advice on gov.uk before booking an appointment with us. Please ensure you have read and understood all of the above before making a booking as your notice booking fee is non-refundable in most cases, , including late arrivals.
Make an appointment for a Certificate of No Impediment
Church of England
If you are marrying in a Church of England church, your vicar will call banns instead and you will not need to give notice. If your vicar cannot, or will not, call banns, then you may be able to give notice as long as they provide you with the relevant form. You must bring that form to your appointment.
Office information
We are an appointment only service so please check read the information on opening hours and access.