before you can marry...

Before you can marry there are certain formalities which are required under law. You must both attend the register office in the district in which you live to inform them of your intention to marry. This is called giving notice. Notice cannot be given by a friend or relative. When giving notice of your marriage it would be advisable, as it takes approximately half an hour, to make an appointment with the superintendent registrar.

You will each be required to give an individual notice. If you live in the same district, then both notices will be given in the same office. If you live in separate districts, you will be required to each give notice in the district in which you live. You must also make any necessary arrangements with the district where you wish to marry. We will be happy to advise you on any of these matters.

 

Giving notice

Giving notice means that you are both free to marry each other and will require you to provide certain documents. You may do this up to one year before the date of your wedding. When you give notice, the superintendent registrar will ask questions about you and your partner. He/she will ask your full names and addresses, your ages, whether either of you has been married before, your occupations and your nationalities.

The superintendent registrar will require two forms of documentary evidence, the preferences being:
Passport
Birth Certificate
Proof of Address
Driving Licence
If you have been married before you MUST bring your decree absolute/your late spouse's death certificate
Change of name deed
Foreign documents should be accompanied by a certified English translation

If either of you are under 18, forms are available from the superintendent registrar which MUST be completed by your parent or guardian.