Notice of Marriage and Civil Partnership
Notice of Marriage/Civil Partnership Appointments
We are currently only offering Notice of Marriage or Civil Partnership Appointments for ceremonies that are due to take place within the next six months.
Both couples will be required to attend in person to give individual notice, if:
- You both reside in Buckinghamshire then you can attend one of the Buckinghamshire offices.
- You reside in separate registration districts, each partner will be required to give notice in the district in which they live.
- If one or both partners are not British or Irish you must both attend together for a joint appointment. If you live in separate districts you can attend either district for this appointment.
Giving notice means declaring that you are both free to enter into marriage or civil partnership with each other. To do this you will be required to present certain documents at your appointment.
Booking your appointment
You may give notice up to six months in advance of your ceremony. You are required to make an appointment with your local Registration Office.
Before you call us you will need to have chosen and booked where you wish your ceremony to take place. If you have chosen a venue you should speak with them first to ensure it is available on the desired date before you contact us. If you wish to have your ceremony in one of our Registration Offices then we will book this with you when you call.
Documents you need to provide
You will need to present valid ID documents and proof of nationality at your notice appointment. These must be original documents and not photocopies.
Proof of identity
For British or Irish citizens only you need to show:
- Valid UK or Irish passport
If you do not have a valid UK passport, you need to show:
- Full British birth certificate
- One other form of ID such as driving licence showing your current name
If you are a British national born on or after 1st January 1983 and don’t have a British passport, you will need evidence of one of your parent’s British nationality at the time of your birth, such as their full birth certificate or British passport. If your parents were not married at the time of your birth this evidence must be from your mother. If your mother was also born after 1st January 1983 then this evidence must come from your grandparent (please call us for further advice on 01494 475092 if necessary).
If you are a non-British citizen you will also need to show your immigration status in order to give Notice. Please contact 01494 475092 to ascertain the correct documents required. Without all of the required documentation we will be unable to take your Notice. In some instances we will require you to bring a passport sized photograph.
Proof of address
Each partner will need to show one of the following documents in their current name:
- Utility bill - not older than three months
- Bank/Building Society statement - not older than one month (online statements showing address are acceptable but must be printed)
- Most recent Council Tax bill
- Valid UK driving licence with current name and address
- Current mortgage or tenancy agreement (not more than one year old)
- A letter signed by the proprietor who is able to confirm place and period of residence and proof that the person lives there
Marital status
If you have been married or have entered into a civil partnership before, you must show evidence that the relationship is legally over.
This is usually in the form of:
- A death certificate for your late spouse/partner. Marriage or civil partnership certificate may also be required to link your names.
- Printed decree absolute or dissolution with court stamp. English translation if applicable. If your divorce took place outside of England or Wales we will require a scanned copy of your divorce documents in advance of your appointment. You will be required to bring the original copy to your appointment.
Change of name
If you've changed your name you need to show us evidence of the change such as:
- A Deed Poll or a Change of Name Deed
If you live outside Buckinghamshire and would like details of your local office, you can find them online or via your local Council.
In Buckinghamshire, a booking fee will be charged for your notice appointment. This will convert to the notice fee when you attend your appointment.
To give notice, you and your partner must have lived in Buckinghamshire for seven full days immediately before you give notice. After giving notice, you must allow for at least 28 clear days before you can enter into marriage or civil partnership. This may be longer if you have foreign documentation. Depending upon your immigration status this waiting period may extend to 70 days.
Please note that an amendment fee is payable when a Notice of Marriage or Civil Partnership is cancelled or changed with less than 7 days notice.
If you are under 18, you will need the consent of your parent or guardian.