Proof of address when bills are not in your name
If you live with family or friends and the bills are not in your name, most register offices will accept a letter from the bill payer confirming you live there, together with a document in your own name such as a bank statement, payslip or official letter showing the same address. Ask your specific office which combination they need.
Why a bill in your name isn't always available
This is a common situation for adult children living with parents, people living with a partner whose name is on the tenancy, or anyone in a house-share where one person handles the bills.
Register offices are used to this and generally have a fallback process, but it is not always advertised clearly, so it is worth asking directly.
Typical evidence combinations
A bank statement, HMRC letter, payslip or NHS letter showing your name at the address, alongside a recent utility bill or council tax statement in the householder's name, is a common accepted combination.
Some offices also accept a short confirmation letter from the person whose name the bills are in, stating that you live at the property.
If you have very little in your own name
If you cannot produce anything showing your name at the address, contact the register office as early as possible — this is exactly the kind of situation staff can advise on individually rather than something with a single fixed answer.
What this means for you
- Gather at least one document in your own name at the address, even if it is not a utility bill.
- Contact the register office ahead of booking if your situation is unusual — most have a workable fallback.
Official sources
- GOV.UK — Give notice at your local register office
- GOV.UK — Marriages and civil partnerships in the UK
Last reviewed: 17 August 2026 · Next review due 17 November 2026
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Related guides
Simply Married is an independent planning service, not a register office or government department. Confirm current requirements and fees with your own register office and on GOV.UK.