Giving notice

For civil marriages or religious marriages in a church other than the Church of England each party is required to 'give notice of marriage' in a registration district.

For Civil Partnership Registration each party will be required to 'give notice' in an local authority area.

Where both parties are British Nationals, European Economic Area or Swiss Citizens, notice must be given to the Superintendent Registrar or Partnership Registrar of the district or local authority in which the party has resided for at least 7 days immediately prior to the day the notice is given.

Where either party is subject to immigration control, notice must be given by both parties attending a designated Register Office together having lived in their own district of residence for at least 7 days.

Please contact the appropriate office in the district where you live as you may need to arrange an appointment.

A 'Notice' must be given at least 15 clear days prior to the date of the marriage or partnership and may be given up to one year in advance.

For marriage in a Church of England you will need to contact your local vicar who will usually arrange for banns to be read.

A full list of the fees can be found on the Plymouth Register Office fees page. You will be asked to produce certain documentary evidence.

The Superintendent Registrar for Plymouth will ask each of you to produce:

• Your passport or travel document
  • British Citizens who do not hold a passport may produce a full birth certificate (and your mother's birth certificate or passport if you were born after 1982)
  • If you were born abroad and do not have a passport or travel document, please contact the Registration Service for further advice
• Your birth certificate (a full birth certificate may be required)
• Your driving licence (if you have one)
• Two forms of documentary evidence of your address (official documents, dated in the previous three months)
• If you have been married before, evidence of how that marriage ended (Death and Marriage Certificate or Divorce Decree Absolute)
• If you have changed your name, any documentary evidence relating to the change
• If you are under 18 years old a parental consent form (available below)

Parental consent form [97KB]

You can download a complete list of the evidence you will require in order to give notice below.

Notice of marriage evidence documents [62KB]

An appointment system operates at Plymouth Register Office.