Using utility bills and tenancy agreements as proof of address

A utility bill, council tax bill or tenancy agreement dated within the last few months and showing your current address is standard proof of address for a marriage notice appointment. It needs to match the district you are giving notice in and cover the recent period a registrar will check against the residency rule.

What counts

Gas, electricity, water or council tax bills, bank statements, and signed tenancy agreements are all commonly accepted, provided they clearly show your name and current address.

Most register offices want something dated recently rather than from many months ago, since the point is to confirm where you are living now.

Tenancy agreements

A signed tenancy agreement is useful evidence if you have just moved and do not yet have a bill in your name, since it shows the start date you moved into the property.

Some register offices will want it alongside a second document, such as a bank statement, to corroborate that you are actually living there.

Digital and paperless bills

If your bills are paperless, a printed or downloaded statement from your online account is generally fine, as long as it shows your name, address and a recent date.

What this means for you

Bring a document dated as recently as possible, ideally from the last three months.
If you cannot show a bill in your own name, ask about acceptable alternatives before your appointment.

Official sources

Last reviewed: 17 August 2026 · Next review due 17 November 2026

See which documents you'll need

Answer two quick questions and we'll list the documents your circumstances actually require — including the ones that take weeks to replace.

See my documents

60 seconds · Free · No account needed

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.