Notice of Marriage – Legal Requirement
Giving notice of marriage or civil partnership
If you wish to get married or form a civil partnership in England or Wales you must both give formal notice to a Superintendent Registrar in the area where you each live at least 28 days before the date of your ceremony.
Foreign Nationals
Where a foreign national is involved, you may come under the Home Office Referral Scheme, click here for more information
If so, please note that the waiting period may be extended from 28 days’ notice to 70 clear days’ notice.
Where to give notice
• If you are an EU citizen you must give notice in the borough in which you live (if you live in separate boroughs you must both give notice separately).
• If you are not an EU citizen you must provide evidence of your right to marry in the UK and give notice in any registrar office designated for this purpose.
How to book your Notice of Marriage
Book your notice of marriage or civil partnership by visiting the Havering Council website here
• Your notice will be valid for 12 months from the date notice is given. Your notices will be displayed on the public notice boards within Langtons House Register
• This is a legal document covered by the Perjury Act 1911. You cannot get married without giving Notice for marriage; confirmation of this notice is called an ‘authority’ and will be present on the day of your wedding.
Required documents
For Identification and nationality both parties will need 2 x proofs as shown below:-
• a valid full passport (or valid UK-issued travel document or biometric immigration document)
• either a valid driving license or birth certificate
• if you believe yourself to be British and a passport is not available, a birth certificate must be produced with extra ID in the form of a driving licence
• If you were born after the 31 December 1982 and do not hold a British passport you will need to produce your full birth certificate for nationality purposes.
• If you were born in the UK between 1983 and July 2006 your full British birth certificate showing parents’ names’ plus your mother’s UK birth certificate.
• If you are not British and do not hold a current passport or an ID card, please contact us for advice.
For residential address both parties will need 2 x proofs as shown below:-
• an original utility bill (not self-printed) dated no more than 3 months before the date on which notice of marriage is given (e.g. gas/ electric/ water/ landline telephone/ cable/ broadband but not a mobile phone bill)
• an original bank or building society statement (not self-printed) or passbook dated no more than one month before the date on which notice of marriage is given
• an original council tax statement (not self-printed) dated for the current year which notice of marriage is given
• an original mortgage statement (not self-printed) dated for the current year which notice of marriage is given
• an original current residential tenancy agreement (not self-printed)
• valid United Kingdom driving licence (only if not being used for ID)
• if you don’t live permanently in the UK but are setting up residency for at least 7 days especially to give notice, you require the Council Tax Statement from the owner or property, plus a signed and dated letter from the owner or proprietor of the property where you are staying stating how long you have been staying at their property for. This must state their name and address
More information can be found on our Notice of Marriage FAQ page here
Or by visiting the .gov website here