Notice of marriage: how giving notice works
Notice is the legal step couples most often leave too late. These pages explain where you give it, what happens at the appointment and how the waiting period works.
Notice of marriage
Notice of marriage explained: the legal declaration you each make in person at your register office before you can marry in England and Wales.
How to give notice of marriage
Step by step: booking your notice appointment, what to bring, what the registrar asks, and what happens after notice is given.
What happens at a notice appointment?
Inside a marriage notice appointment: how long it takes, what the registrar asks, what you must bring and what can stop it completing.
Which register office do I give notice at?
You give notice at the register office for the district where you have lived for the last seven days — not where you are getting married.
Giving notice of marriage
What giving notice of marriage actually involves in England and Wales, why it's a legal requirement, and how it fits into your wedding timeline.
What are the requirements for giving notice of marriage?
The requirements you must meet before giving notice: age, residency, documents and being free to marry, plus what happens if immigration rules apply.
What documents do you need for your marriage notice appointment?
The exact documents to bring to a notice of marriage appointment: identity, address and any evidence a previous marriage has ended.
What happens at a notice of marriage appointment?
What to expect at your notice appointment: what the registrar asks, how long it takes, and what happens to your details afterwards.
How long does giving notice of marriage take?
How long the notice appointment itself takes, and how long the statutory notice period lasts before you can legally marry.
When should you give notice of marriage?
How to work out the right time to give notice: not so early it expires, not so late it delays your ceremony date.
How early can you give notice of marriage?
Notice of marriage can be given up to 12 months before your ceremony date. Here's how that limit works and why it matters for planning.
Which register office do you give notice at?
You give notice at the register office covering the district where you live, not where you plan to marry. Here's how to find the right one.
Can you give notice at different register offices?
If you and your partner live in different council areas, you each give notice separately at your own local register office. Here's how it works.
Can you give notice of marriage without your partner present?
You each give notice individually and separately — your partner does not attend your appointment, and you do not attend theirs.
Do both people need to attend a notice of marriage appointment?
Each partner must attend their own notice appointment in person — you cannot give notice on someone else's behalf.
How do you book a notice of marriage appointment?
How to book your notice of marriage appointment, what information you'll need to give, and how far ahead to book.
What is the marriage notice period?
The notice period is the minimum wait between giving notice and marrying — usually 28 days, sometimes longer. Here's how it works.
What happens if your marriage notice expires?
Notice of marriage is valid for 12 months. If your ceremony is delayed beyond that, you'll need to give notice again from scratch.
Can you change your wedding venue after giving notice?
Your notice records your ceremony venue. Changing it afterwards may mean amending your notice or, in some cases, giving notice again.
What happens if you move house after giving notice?
Moving after you've given notice does not usually cancel it, but you should tell the register office, especially if your ceremony details are affected.
Can you marry somewhere different from where you gave notice?
Yes — you give notice where you live, but you can marry anywhere legally approved for ceremonies, as long as your notice records that venue correctly.
What is the residency requirement for giving notice of marriage?
You must have lived in your notice district for at least the last seven full days before your appointment. Here's how that rule works.
Can you use an expired passport at your notice appointment?
Registrars usually need current identity evidence. An expired passport may not be accepted on its own — check with your register office first.
Do you need to give civil notice for a religious ceremony?
Whether you need civil notice depends on the religion and building. Church of England and Church in Wales weddings can often use banns instead.
How do you give notice of marriage if you live abroad?
If you live outside England and Wales but want to marry here, giving notice usually requires temporary residence or specific arrangements. Check early.
Not sure which rules apply to you?
Answer a few quick questions and see your route, your likely register office and your earliest date.
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