Notice of Marriage

On 1st January 2001 new regulations come into force which require you both to give notice by Certificate and you will need to meet the following conditions:-

• You must both have lived in a registration district in England or Wales for 7 clear days immediately before the date you give notice of your marriage. It does not matter if either of you moves to a different address once you have given notice.
  
  
• If you live in a different district from the person you are marrying, you both must give notice at the register offices in each district. You must both also make arrangements for the date and time of the wedding with the Superintendent Registrar in the district where the marriage is to take place. Civil marriage ceremonies can be solemnised in any register office or approved premises in England or Wales. For the address of register offices in Herefordshire, please see the later section in this brochure.
  
  
• Once you have given notice you must wait a further 15 clear days before the marriage can take place (for example,if notice is given on 1st July, the marriage may take place on or after 17th July). You can collect the authority for marriage from the district or districts where notice was given as soon as this waiting period is over. This authority is the legal document that allows your marriage to take place.
  
  
• You must both give your authority to marry to the Superintendent Registrar of the district where the marriage is to take place. This authority is valid for 12 months from the date you gave notice.You will each be charged a fee for giving notice. Any register office can tell you the current fee.