British and Irish Nationals and those with EU settled or pre-settled status
Giving legal notice of marriage or civil partnership
In England or Wales, before you can marry or enter into a civil partnership, you must each give legal notice (in person and by appointment) in the district where you live or have resided for at least 7 clear days (prior to your appointment).
What is a notice of Marriage/Civil Partnership?
A notice is a signed legal statement of your intention to marry/form a civil partnership that is displayed on the register office notice board for 28 clear calendar days. It ensures couples are free to marry or form a civil partnership.
What documents do I need to provide?
We can only process your application if you provide all the required documents at your appointment. You will need to bring evidence of your name, age, nationality, marital status, address, and immigration status.
You must produce accurate information of the following to your appointment:
- Details of the final venue for your ceremony and the time you are looking to marry/form a civil partnership.
One of the following to prove your name, age, nationality:
- a full, in date passport
- A full original UK birth certificate if you were born before 1 January 1983 (If born after 1983 you will need your birth certificate along with your mother’s Birth certificate to prove your nationality or your fathers if your parents were married at the time of your birth)
One of the following to prove your current residency.
- Utility bill dated no more than 3 month earlier than the date of your appointment.
- Bank/Building society statement dated no more than a month before your appointment.
- Council tax bill dated no more than a year before the date of your appointment.
- Current Residential Tenancy Agreement
- Valid driving/provisional licence showing your current address.
- letter from your landlord (dated within the last 7 days) confirming you live there and including your landlord’s name, address, and their signature.
Proof of any name changes (for example, your deed poll document)
If you’ve been married or in a civil partnership before
You’ll also need to bring one of the following documents:
- a decree absolute or final order (the names on this document need to match the names on the other documents you are bringing in. If not, you may need to obtain a copy of your original marriage certificate or provide a name change document to ensure all names tie together on the documents)
- your former partner’s death certificate.
Parents Details:
For historical purposes, during the notice, we will ask you about your parent’s details (their full names and their occupation and whether they are retired). This is optional, but please have these details if you would like them recorded on your marriage schedule.
If you or your partner are from outside the UK
You’ll also need to bring:
- a passport sized photo for each of you (even if only one of you is from outside the UK)
- proof of your current immigration status (for example, your visa)
- a translation of any documents that are not in English which may need to be sent to the General Registrar
If you’re from the EU, EEA or have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
You’ll need to bring confirmation of either:
- EEA or Other Nationals with settled, pre-settled or pending applications to the European Union Settlement Scheme will need to provide evidence and your ‘share code’ for Registrars to check the GOV.UK website.
How much will the notice cost?
- £42 per person or;
- £57 per person if referred to Home Office Immigration
What happens afterwards?
Once you have given notice you must wait a minimum of 28 days before you are married or joined in a civil partnership. Please, therefore, bear these timeframes in mind when requesting wedding or civil partnership ceremony dates.
Please only book an appointment if you have all documents prepared.
It’s important that the information recorded is correct. Corrections after your ceremony will need to be sent to the General Registrar who will charge you £99. Therefore, it’s essential that you check the details very carefully before you sign.
You should arrive 10 minutes before your appointment. If you are more than 10 minutes late your appointment, it may not be possible for the appointment to take place and it may be rearranged. The rearranged appointment may not be on the same day.
- You cannot ask a friend or relative to attend and give notice for you.
- You will need to provide certain documents. Details will be given when you make your appointment.
- There is a statutory fee of £42 for each notice given.
- You can give notice at the same time, or on different days, but the ceremony cannot take place until 28 clear days have passed for each person.
- Certain information is publicly displayed for 28 clear days.
Your ceremony can take place after 28 clear days and within 12 months of giving notice.
How to make an appointment if you are a British or Irish citizen
If you live or have resided in the county of Leicestershire for at least 7 clear days, contact us to make an appointment at a registration office.
Provided that you live or have resided in the City of Leicester for at least 7 clear days, follow instructions on the Leicester City Council website.
If you are an EU or EEA citizen with settled or pre-settled status you will need to complete the EU or EEA Citizens form.
To submit your form, you must include:
- A share code which can be found at www.gov.uk and is the share code which is not to show your right to work or to rent.
- If applicable, any divorce documentation which was granted outside of the United Kingdom – a scan of that divorce will need to be emailed along with a translation if it is not in English. There is an additional statutory fee to be paid for the approval of any foreign divorce depending on the country, which could be either £50 or £75.
Completed forms and any additional documents should be emailed to registration@leics.gov.uk.
Once the form is received and the code has been checked, you will receive a call to make an appointment for your notices of marriage or civil partnership and/or to book your ceremony.
What to take
The list of acceptable documents can be found on the UK Government website. They will need to be originals, not copies.