17 Nov 2025
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27a Market Place, Market Deeping, PE6 8EA
01778 230 120 01778 230 129 enquiries@hegarty.co.uk17 Nov 2025
If you’re getting married, firstly congratulations! You’ll be starting to think about all of the arrangements, décor and the guest-list, but before you pick your wedding cake or book your venue, there is a critical legal step - giving notice of your intention to marry.
In England and Wales, you must present a formal declaration at your local register office. Failing to do so properly may mean your marriage is not legally valid.
Giving notice means attending a formal appointment at a local register office to state your intention to marry or enter into a civil partnership. The registrar will ask you and your partner for personal details, check that you are free to marry, and then the notice will be publicly displayed for a statutory period to allow any legal objections.
In short, it’s the first official step to ensure your marriage is legally recognised.
Both partners must give notice in person, you cannot delegate the appointment to someone else.
You must attend the register office in the area where you have been resident for at least 7 full days prior to giving notice. If you and your partner live in different registration areas, each of you will need to give notice at your respective local register office.
You should give notice at least 29 days before your planned marriage or civil partnership. This means if notice is given on 1st May, the earliest you could marry is 30th May.
After giving notice, you must marry or register the civil partnership within 12 months. If you do not, you’ll have to give notice again.
During your notice appointment you will be asked for a range of information and will need to produce original documents. The exact requirements may vary slightly by area, but usually include:
Bring the originals of the documents. Photocopies are generally not acceptable. Also check with the register office in advance if any translation of foreign documents is required.
Here are some important points you may not have thought of — and which may impact your notice process:
If you give notice citing a particular venue, and then later decide to change venue, area, or country, you may need to give a new notice.
If your previous marriage or civil partnership was dissolved outside the UK (or was a foreign order), further checks by the registry may apply, possibly incurring additional fees.
If one or both partners are non-UK or Irish nationals, you may not only need extra documents, but the registrar might refer your notice to the Home Office. This can extend the waiting period to about 70 days instead of 29.
Same-sex couples are treated the same as opposite-sex couples for the notice requirement. You may choose either to marry or form a civil partnership. The same rules on giving notice apply.
In England & Wales you must be at least 16 to marry or form a civil partnership. If under 18, parental/guardian consent may still be required.
If you give incorrect information or fail to bring the right documents, your notice may be rejected, your ceremony delayed, or the marriage deemed void. It’s crucial to check everything in advance with your register office.
Giving notice protects both you and the integrity of the marriage system. The process ensures that:
Failing to comply with the notice requirements can mean your marriage is not legally valid, which may affect your rights in relation to finances, next of kin, inheritance, and more.
While giving notice is often straightforward, there are circumstances where you may benefit from legal assistance, especially if:
A solicitor specialising in family law can review your situation, ensure all documentation is correct and help you avoid delays or legal risk.
Giving notice of your intention to marry is an essential and legally binding step in the process of marriage or civil partnership in England & Wales. By attending a register office appointment, providing correct documentation and observing the statutory waiting period, you help ensure your union will be valid and recognised under law.
If your situation is complex, for instance involving overseas divorces, non-UK nationals, or name changes, now is the time to seek tailored legal advice so the process goes smoothly and you can focus on planning the rest of your special day.
At Hegarty, our family law solicitors have many years’ experience advising couples on marriage and civil partnerships and the legal steps required. Please get in touch for a friendly, no-obligation discussion of your situation.
There is a statutory fee for giving notice. Typical fees are around £42 per person, but this can increase (for example to around £57) if one of you is subject to Home Office referral. Check with your local register office for the exact cost.
No, both partners must attend in person at the register office. Online or remote giving of notice is not currently accepted.
After you give notice:
If you change your wedding date within the 12-month window, generally you can still proceed, provided your ceremony takes place within the 12-month validity and no significant detail (such as venue area) has changed. However, check with your register office to be safe.
Generally, no, you must wait the statutory notice period of at least 29 days after giving notice. If you attempt to marry earlier, the marriage could be void. Some rare exemptions may apply but these are exceptional.
Whatever legal support you need, our experienced and highly skilled solicitors and legal advisors are here to help. With expertise across a wide range of legal areas, we provide clear, practical advice tailored to you. What sets us apart is our commitment to understanding your needs and delivering the best possible outcome with a personal touch.
