Giving notice

Documents you will need to give notice

To help ensure your notice of marriage or civil partnership appointment is completed successfully please bring details of the final venue for your ceremony as well as the legal documents listed below.

  • all documents must be original or official copies

  • photocopies are not acceptable

  • the court must stamp any court-issued documents or, if you received the original version via email proof of the sender must be shown to the registrar at the appointment

Evidence of name and nationality

British citizens 

You will need to provide one of the following:

  • a valid UK passport
  • a UK citizenship certificate
    or
  • the following, dependent on your date of birth
Please note: where using a birth certificate you must include nationality

Date of birth

Evidence required

Before 1 January 1983

You should bring your United Kingdom (UK) birth certificate

After 1 January 1983

You should bring your full UK birth certificate and either:

  • if your parents were married or in a civil partnership at the time of your birth, nationality can be taken from either parent. You will need to provide evidence of one of your parents nationality. This could be their full UK birth certificate or passport.

  • if your parents have married or formed a civil partnership since your birth, nationality can be taken from either parent. You will need to provide proof of their marriage or civil partnership, along with evidence of one of your parents nationality. This could be their full UK birth certificate or passport.

  • if your parents have never married or been in a civil partnership, nationality can only be taken from your mother. You will need to provide evidence of your mother’s nationality. This could be a full UK birth certificate or passport.

After 1 July 2006

You should bring your full UK birth certificate showing parents details and evidence of either parents British citizenship or settled status at the time of the birth. This could be their full UK birth certificate or passport.

There must be a clear link between your parents names on your birth certificate and any supporting evidence provided for your parents. If your parents have ever changed their names, then you may need to prove the link between names. This may be in the form of a certified change of name deed, marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate.

If you are using one of your parents birth certificates as proof of their nationality and your parent was also born on or after 1 January 1983, you may also need to provide additional proof from grandparents, Please contact us if this is the case

Irish citizens

A valid Irish passport.

EU citizens with the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status)

A valid EU passport and a EUSS check code. You can get a share code on the gov.uk website. You must provide this code to the registrar at your notice appointment. View and prove your immigration status

All other nationalities

  • you should bring your passport
  • evidence of your appropriate visa for marriage or civil partnership, or immigration status

If you do not have an appropriate visa your case will be referred to the Home Office at the appointment

Evidence of your address

One of the following:

Evidence type

Must contain

Council tax bill

Dated within 12 months of your appointment

Utility bill

Dated within three months of your appointment

Please note a mobile phone bill or TV contract cannot be used as evidence

Bank or building society statement 

Dated within one month of your appointment

Valid UK driving licence 

This must show your correct home address.

You can be fined up to £1000 if you do not tell the DVLA when your address changes. Change the address on your driving licence.

Mortgage statement 

Dated within 12 months

Tenancy agreement 

Current agreement 

Letter from the homeowner or manager

If you don't have the usual proof of address, like bills, you can use a letter from the person who owns or manages the place where you live. This letter should include:

  • your name and confirm your place of residence.

  • how long you’ve lived at that address including dates from and to

  • the name and address of the owner or manager, and their signature and date. This should be done within one month of giving notice.

If you're staying with a tenant, the tenant can write a similar letter. It should also mention how long you've been living there. The tenant will need to show evidence of their residence, like a rental agreement.

Proof of marital status

If you have been married or in a civil partnership before, you must provide evidence of the legal ending of your previous marriage or civil partnership.

This could be in the form of the following:

Evidence type

Must contain

The original or official copy court-stamped Decree Absolute, Final Order or Dissolution Order issued by the County Court or High Court Family Division.

If your divorce or dissolution is in another language, you must provide the original court document and an English translation.

Consideration of foreign divorce documents may incur an additional fee.

An original death certificate of your late spouse or civil partner.

If you are not named on the death certificate, you must also bring an original marriage or civil partnership certificate.

The court must stamp any court-issued documents or, if you received the final documents by email, proof of the sender must be shown to the registrar at the appointment.

Evidence of change of name

If you use a different name than the one used on any of your supporting documents, you must provide further evidence to link all your names.

This may be in the form of a:

  • previous marriage or civil partnership certificate(s)

  • change of name deed(s)

Photographs

If either you or your partner are foreign nationals and you are subject to immigration control, each of you may be required to provide a photograph that must be a UK passport style and size, which;

  • clearly shows the face of the party, which must:

    • have a neutral expression

    • not be wearing any head covering (other than for religious or medical reasons)

  • shows only the party and no other person or object

  • is unmarked, unaltered and without tears or creases

  • was taken recently and shows a current likeness of the individual

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