Once you have decided on the date and chosen a venue, you must both 'give notice' by signing a legal statement at your local registry office.
Giving notice involves attending an appointment where you will declare:
- who you intend to marry or form a civil partnership with
- where the ceremony will take place
- that you are legally free to get married or form a civil partnership
Where to give notice
- Notice must be given in the district where you live, regardless of where your marriage or civil partnership occurs.
- If you live in Lincolnshire, you can book an appointment to give notice at any of our registry offices.
- If you live outside of Lincolnshire, you must give your notice of marriage or civil partnership at the registry office in your district(s).
- If you or your partner are foreign nationals subject to immigration control, you must both give notice together. Notices must be given in the district where you live. You can choose which district to give notice in if you live in separate districts.
- If one or both of you live abroad, you must have lived within the registration district for at least 7 full days immediately before you give notice. The day you arrive in Lincolnshire and the day you give notice do not count towards the 7-day residency requirement. You will be required to prove the residency period at your notice appointment. This rule has no exceptions, even if you are a British citizen living abroad.
When to give notice
- Notice can be given up to 12 months in advance. Notices are valid for 12 months. If your marriage or civil partnership does not take place within 12 months of giving notice, you will need to give fresh notices and pay the notice fee again.
- If you change the venue for your ceremony, you will need to give notice again.
- You must both give your notices at least 28 days before your ceremony date (we recommend giving notice at least three months before).
- If you or your partner are foreign nationals and you are subject to immigration control, we may have to refer your marriage to the home office. So you both must give your notices at least 70 days before your ceremony date.
You will need to provide documents to the Registrar at your notice appointment.
If you intend to hold your legal ceremony outside the UK, visit our getting married abroad page.
Documents you will need to give notice
You must provide certain identification documents to the registrar at your notice appointment.
- All documents must be original.
- Photocopies are not acceptable.
- The court must stamp any court-issued documents or, if sent via email, proof of the sender must be shown to the registrar.
- All necessary documents will be confirmed when you book your appointment.
- Provide the correct documents to avoid the cancellation of your appointment.
- Depending on your circumstances, a statutory fee of £35 or £47 per person is payable at your appointment.
Evidence of name, age and nationality
British citizens
- A valid UK passport
- or the following, dependent on your date of birth.
Date of birth |
Evidence required |
|---|---|
|
Before 1 January 1983 |
A United Kingdom (UK) birth certificate and another document (e.g., valid photo card driving licence) to show use of your current name. |
|
After 1 January 1983 |
A full UK birth certificate and your mother’s UK birth certificate. If your Natural Mother has changed her name to one not shown on her original UK Birth Certificate, you must bring evidence of her name change. (this may be a certified Change of Name Deed, Marriage Certificate or Civil Partnership Certificate). |
|
After 1 July 2006 |
Full United Kingdom birth certificate showing parents’ details and evidence of either parents’ British citizenship or settled status at the time of the birth (e.g., either parents’ full United Kingdom birth certificate (if the relevant parent was born before 1 January 1983) or passport describing the relevant parent as a British Citizen or indicating that they then had indefinite leave to enter or remain). |
Irish citizens
A valid Irish passport.
EU citizens with settled status (EUSS)
A valid EU passport and a EUSS check code. You can get a share code on the gov.uk website. You must provide this code to the registrar at your notice appointment. View and prove your immigration status.
EU citizens without settled status and all other nationalities
You should bring your passport and evidence of your appropriate Visa for marriage/civil partnership or immigration status.
Evidence of your address
One of the following.
Evidence type |
Notes |
|---|---|
|
Council Tax bill |
Dated within 12 months of your appointment |
|
Utility bill |
Dated within 3 months of your appointment Please note a mobile phone bill or TV contract cannot be used as evidence |
|
Bank or building society statement |
Dated within 1 month of your appointment |
|
Valid UK driving licence |
This must show your correct home address. You can be fined up to £1000 if you do not tell the DVLA when your address changes. Change the address on your driving licence. |
|
Mortgage statement |
Dated within 12 months |
|
Tenancy agreement |
Current agreement |
|
Letter from the homeowner or manager |
If you don't have the usual proof of address, like bills, you can use a letter from the person who owns or manages the place where you live. This letter should include:
If you're staying with a tenant, the tenant can write a similar letter. It should also mention how long you've been living there. The tenant will need to show evidence of their residence, like a rental agreement. |
Proof of marital status
If you have been married or in a civil partnership before, you must provide evidence of the legal ending of your previous marriage or civil partnership. This could be in the form of the following:
Evidence type |
Notes |
|---|---|
|
The original court-stamped Decree Absolute, Final Order or Dissolution Order issued by the County Court or High Court Family Division. |
If your divorce or dissolution is in another language, you must provide the original court document and an English translation. Consideration of foreign divorce documents may incur an additional fee. |
|
An original death certificate of your late spouse or civil partner |
If you are not named on the death certificate, you must also bring an original marriage or civil partnership certificate. |
Evidence of change of name
If you use a different name than the one used on any of your supporting documents, you must provide further evidence to link all your names.
This may be in the form of a:
- previous marriage or civil partnership certificate(s)
- change of name deed(s)
Photographs
If either you or your partner are foreign nationals and you are subject to immigration control, each of you may be required to provide a photograph that must be a UK passport style and size, which;
- clearly shows the face of the party, which must:
- have a neutral expression
- not be wearing any head covering (other than for religious or medical reasons)
- shows only the party and no other person or object
- is unmarked, unaltered and without tears or creases
- was taken recently and shows a current likeness of the individual
Book an appointment
Appointment fees
- Your notice of marriage or civil partnership fee is £35 per person.
- if your notice of marriage or civil partnership is referred to the Home Office it is £47 per person.
If your last marriage was dissolved or annulled and your divorce document was issued outside the British Isles, it will need to be validated by Lincolnshire Registration Service or the General Register office.
- £50 if Lincolnshire Registration Service can clear the documents.
- £75 if the documents require referral to the General Register Office (GRO).
All notice appointment fees are payable at the point of booking.
Book an appointment
Please note you are not booking your marriage or civil partnership ceremony. This appointment is to complete the legal paperwork only.
Before booking an appointment to give notice, it is your responsibility to read and understand the following:
- Your appointment will last approximately 30 minutes per person.
- If there are any language difficulties, you must arrange for a suitable translator to attend with you.
- A booking fee will be required to secure your appointment. This will be the total cost of your notice appointment.
- You must bring all required documents to your appointment. Failure to do so will result in us not being able to take your notice.
Give notice of civil partnership
Amend or cancel your appointment