Giving Notice of Your Intent to Marry or Form a Civil Partnership
ListenAn appointment is required to give notice. A fee is payable to the Superintendent Registrar at the time of giving notice, currently £33.50 per person.
When you have chosen and booked the venue and date of the wedding, you must arrange to give notice in the Register Office of the district in which you live. Notice is not required if the ceremony is to be held in a Church of England, you must arrange with the church to have your banns read.
If you and your partner live in different districts, each of you must give notice in your own district. You must have been resident in the district for at least seven full days.
If either of you is subject to immigration control you will have to both give notice at a designated office, either in Reading or Slough, having firstly obtained permission from the Home Office.
It is not possible to give notice more than 12 months in advance of your ceremony.
The notice is a legal statement, which must be signed by you; you cannot ask a friend or relative to give notice for you.
The documents required will include:
- Birth certificate (essential if under 23)
- Current passport (if available)
- Proof of address
- Divorce papers (if applicable)
- Death certificate for former spouse (if applicable)
- Change of name papers (if applicable)
- Parental consent (if under 18)
Please be aware that failure to produce the required documents will result in the notice not being taken.
The purpose of giving notice is for the Superintendent Registrar to ensure you are lawfully free to marry or form a civil partnership, and to complete the preliminary legal documentation of your ceremony.
On completion of the notice, the details are put on the notice board for 15 days and it should be noted that the ceremony cannot take place until after this time has elapsed. This is the legal period of time for an objection to be made. Objections can only be made if there is a legal reason that the ceremony cannot take place, and evidence must be produced.
On the 16th day a certificate for marriage will be issued, and this is document required for the marriage to take place. A civil partnership schedule will also be issued on the 16th day, but this is electronically sent to the office conducting the ceremony.
There are procedures in place to reduce the 15 day waiting period for someone who is seriously ill and not expected to recover. Please call the office for more information if required.
If you will require any special assistance at your appointment, please tell us at the time of booking the appointment
If your ceremony is to be held in a different district, you must give the authority to the Superintendent Registrar in the appropriate district.
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