Give notice of marriage or civil partnership

Choose a ceremony and find out how to give notice at the register office in Kingston.

Types of ceremony

You can choose to have either a:

• religious ceremony
• civil ceremony
• statutory ceremony (available from October to April)

Find out about the different types of ceremonies on GOV.UK.

Read our terms and conditions for marriage, civil partnership and statutory ceremonies.

Where to give notice

To give notice you need to book an appointment at your local register office. This is when you sign a legal statement saying you intend to get married or form a civil partnership. 

The process may be different if marrying in a Church of England. Contact your church for further information. 

You and your partner need to:

• both give notice
• have residency in 1 district in England or Wales for at least 9 days
• give notice at least 28 days before the ceremony date
• provide details of the ceremony venue
• hold your ceremony within 12 months of giving notice
• be over the age of 18

If you are a relevant national you must give notice in the district that you have lived in for the previous 9 days. This can be together or separately. 

If you are a non-relevant national without previous Home Office permission you must also:

• attend an appointment together with your partner in the district where at least 1 of you resides
• give notice a minimum of 70 days before the ceremony date

A relevant national is defined as a:

• British citizen
• Irish citizen
• person who has been granted EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status and submitted their application before 30th June 2021 (this can be settled status, pre-settled or someone with a pending application)

Read our terms and conditions for notice appointments

Costs 

Completing a notice of marriage or civil partnership costs £42 each. If you are subject to immigration control or do not have permission from the Home Office to marry it costs £57 each.

What to bring to your appointment

Check the following lists to make sure that you and your partner both bring the correct documents to your appointment. If you both do not bring them, we will not be able to continue.

Evidence of your name, date of birth and nationality

Bring 1 of the following documents:

• a valid passport
• a UK birth certificate if you were born before 1983 and evidence of your current name (British citizens only)
• a full birth certificate and evidence of a parent's British nationality (if you were born after 1983 only)
• a certificate of registration as a British citizen together with evidence of current use of that name as shown in the document
• a certificate of naturalisation as a British citizen together with evidence of current use of that name as shown in the document
• a valid biometric immigration document
• a valid Home Office travel document
• your settled or pre-settled status including the confirmation of the date you sent your application and the share code which you can get from the view and prove your immigration status service

Evidence your proof of residence

Bring 1 of the following documents (in order of priority):

• a utility bill (no older than 3 months)
• a bank statement (no older than 1 month). If you’re using an online statement, this must be stamped by the relevant bank to show that it is an authentic document
• most recent Council Tax bill (no older than 1 year)
• a valid UK driving licence in your current name and address
• a mortgage statement (no older than 1 year)
• a current residential tenancy agreement
• a letter signed by letting agent or owner of the address who is able to confirm your period of residence with an associated document, such as an airline boarding pass

If you have been previously married or in a civil partnership

Bring 1 of the following documents:

• a decree absolute, final order or legal documents that show the marriage or civil partnership has been dissolved
• a death certificate for your late husband or wife if you are widowed or a surviving civil partner

If the divorce or dissolution took place abroad, you will need to provide an original document with a certified translation if not in English. This costs up to £83 extra to clear foreign divorce paperwork.     

If you are a non-relevant national

If you are a non-relevant national, you also need to bring the following documents:

• a passport-size colour photo (even if one of you is a relevant national)
• proof of your current immigration status (for example, your visa)
• a certified translation of any documents that are not in English

We work closely with the Home Office for the detection and prevention of sham marriages and civil partnerships.

Where 1 or both partners are subject to immigration control, we are required by law to inform the Home Office of a couple's intention to marry or form a civil partnership. The Home Office will review each couple's case. The notice period could be extended to 70 days.

Couples who have a valid marriage or civil partnership visa, indefinite leave to remain or right of abode in the UK, will not be referred to the Home Office. 

Couples who both have indefinite leave to remain or right of abode in the UK do not need to bring passport-sized photographs. 

What happens at your appointment 

At your appointment we will interview you and your partner separately. 

We will ask you:

• about your venue choices
• if you are having a marriage or civil partnership
• what dates you would like your ceremony
• for the correct spelling of yours and your partners names
• for both yours and your partners full address and postcode
• your nationality and immigration status
• yours and your partners date of birth
• about yours and your partners job titles
• about any previous marriages
• for both of your parent's details, including full names and occupations 

Book an appointment

Use the relevant online form to book an appointment to:

• give notice of marriage
• give notice of civil partnership

If you are getting married outside of England and Wales, email registrars@kingston.gov.uk or call 0208 517 6196.