Giving your notice of marriage
By law, before you can get married, you must both give your notice of marriage to the Superintendent Registrar in the district where you live (except where you are getting married in a Church of England or Church of Wales).
You must have lived in the district for at least seven days before you can give your notice. If you both live in the same district you must both give your own notice at the same office.
If you live in different registration districts you must give notice separately in your own area. You must both go to give your notice so you cannot ask someone else to go for you. Once you have given your notice it does not matter if either of you moves to a different address. A notice of marriage lasts for 12 months although we advise that you give your notice as soon as possible.
You must get married at the place named on your marriage notice. It may be possible to change the date or time of your wedding but if you want to get married somewhere else you will need a new notice.
After you give notice you have to wait 15 days before the Superintendent Registrar will give permission and then you can get married.
If you live in Leeds you will need to make an appointment to give your notice of marriage. Please ring (0113) 2476709.
What documents will we need?
You will need to prove your name, age, nationality, address and, if you have been married before your marital status
- Name, age and nationality - a passport or a birth certificate
- A deed poll or any statutory declaration documents if you have changed your name.
- If either of you is not British, you should contact your embassy or similar authority for advice. Marriage in this country, and even to a British citizen, gives no automatic right to remain here.
- Address - driving licence or utility bill/bank statement showing your current address.
- Marital status - If either of you has been married before, either in this country or abroad, and is now divorced, you will need to show proof of your divorce. If you divorced in England or Wales this will be a court stamped copy of the decree absolute. If you were divorced anywhere else you will need to produce the original document issued by that country and an English translation, if appropriate.
- If you have been widowed you will need to show us a certified copy of your late husband's or wife's death certificate.
- If you have already married each other in a foreign country, you only need to marry again in this country if you think that the marriage is not legally recognised in the country where you were married. If you decide to marry here, you will need to provide any documents relating to the marriage when you give your notice
What to do if you are under 18
The minimum age for marriage in this country is 16 years. If either of you is aged 16 or 17 you will need to provide proof of consent to your marriage- either from parent(s), guardian(s) or the court(s). Please contact us for advice