What happens at a notice appointment?
A notice appointment usually takes around 20 to 30 minutes per person. The registrar checks your original documents, confirms your details, asks questions about your relationship and circumstances, takes the statutory fee and records your declaration.
How it runs
You will often be interviewed separately, which is routine rather than suspicious. You are asked to confirm your name, age, address, occupation, nationality, marital status and where you intend to marry.
What can stop it
Missing originals, names that do not match across documents, insufficient residency, or an unresolved previous marriage will all prevent the notice being taken that day.
You will normally have to rebook and pay the fee again.
If your notice is referred
Where one of you is subject to immigration control, the registrar must refer the notice to the Home Office and the waiting period extends. You are told at the appointment if this applies.
What this means for you
- Both of you attend, but you do not have to attend together if you are in different districts.
- Take a photo of your document checklist to the appointment; a rebooking costs weeks, not days.
Official sources
- GOV.UK — Give notice at your local register office
- GOV.UK — Marriage and civil partnership referral and investigation scheme
Last reviewed: 16 August 2026 · Next review due 16 November 2026
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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.