Giving Notice of Marriage

Legal Preliminaries to Getting Married

Before you can marry, there are certain formalities that are required by law. You need to make an appointment for both of you to attend the Register Office so that you can inform them of your intention to marry. This is called 'giving notice', and is a legal procedure by which you declare your freedom to marry each other. Giving notice requires your signature and therefore cannot be done by a friend or relative.

Notice of Marriage

Formal notice of marriage must be given to the superintendent registrar in the registration district(s) where the parties to the marriage live regardless of where the marriage is to take place.

What Documents will I Need?

You will need to produce independent documentation with reference to your name and age. Passports are preferred but birth certificates and drivers' licences are acceptable if you do not have a passport.

If either of you has been married before you will need to produce documents showing how your marriage ended. If it ended in divorce you must have the Decree Absolute stamped by a court in England or Wales, or the original divorce documents from another country with a translation into English if the document is in a foreign language.

If widowed you will need proof of the death of your previous spouse and in the case of a widow you may need your marriage certificate as well if you did not register your husband's death.

You may give notice up to one year before your wedding day.

After giving notice you can now be married in any register office or approved premises you choose.

Giving Notice Of Marriage

Both parties to the marriage must have lived in a registration district in England or Wales for at least eight days prior to the giving of the formal notice of marriage.

It does not matter if you move from these addresses once the notice(s) has been given.

However once the notice(s) has been given you cannot change the venue of the marriage without giving a new notice and paying another fee.

If the parties live in different districts notice must be given in both districts. If the marriage is to be in a district in which neither of the parties live then the parties must first ascertain whether they will be able to be married when they wish.

The notice(s) will be displayed on the noticeboard at the register office for a period of fifteen days. After this period, an authority for the marriage can be issued.

If the marriage is to take place at a different district to where notice of marriage was given, the certificate must be collected from the office where the notice was given and delivered to the office where the marriage is to take place.

If both parties live within the district where the marriage is to take place and notice has been given there, no authority has to be collected.

It is essential that the Registrar has possession of the authority or authorities before the marriage, otherwise the marriage may well be delayed or even postponed.

A fee is payable for giving the notice of marriage.

Marrying in a Church

If you are planning a church wedding, you must see the minister of the church in the registration district where you live. Unless your marriage is to be according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England or Wales, where banns are usually read, you will be required to give notice to the Superintendent Registrar in whose district you reside.

Usually you must live in the district where you plan to marry unless your place of worship is outside the district and you wish to marry there. You may also marry outside the district if there is no building of your religion in your district. In some cases a local registrar may need to attend the service. It is advisable that you check this and confirm the availability before you set a date.

The County Council does not hold comprehensive information on local churches and places of worship, but we do hold some information in our Community Information Database - just select the area and faith you are interested in from the A-Z listing.

Marrying in Approved Premises

There are now venues in England and Wales other than a register office or religious building where your marriage ceremony can take place, for example civic buildings, hotels etc. A full list of these venues can be obtained from the Office of National Statistics on 0151 471 4516 on payment of the required fee. A list of venues in County Durham can be obtained free of charge by contacting County Hall, Durham on 0191 3834760, or see them on our Approved Premises for Marriages in County Durham page.

Marrying in a Register Office

Every register office is different and usually has its own character. In County Durham, marriage facilities are located in the register offices at Stanley, Durham City, Peterlee, Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle. The Superintendent Registrar in each location will be only too pleased to show you the marriage room before making your choice of location.

Further details of civil marriage arrangements and wedding facilities within County Durham can be obtained from the Superintendent Registrars at the locations detailed previously.


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