Missing or lost documents: what to do before your notice appointment
If a document you need has been lost, order a replacement as early as possible rather than close to your notice appointment, since court and certificate copies commonly take several weeks. Contact your register office too — they can confirm exactly what will be accepted while you wait.
Lost birth or marriage certificates
Copies of birth, marriage and death certificates can be ordered from the General Register Office or the local register office that originally registered the event. Processing times vary, so order well ahead of your appointment.
Lost decree absolute or final order
A copy of a final order or decree absolute can be requested from the court that granted it. You will usually need to know roughly when and where the divorce was finalised to speed up the search.
Do not wait until the last minute
Because a notice appointment cannot proceed without the right originals, a missing document can push your entire timeline back. As soon as you set a wedding date, check you can locate every document you will need.
What this means for you
- Treat document checks as one of the first jobs after setting a date, not one of the last.
- A missing document typically delays your notice appointment, not just your paperwork — plan margin into your timeline.
Official sources
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.