Documents needed for giving notice of marriage or civil partnership

When you attend your appointment to give notice of marriage or civil partnership you need to bring some documents with you. We need to see proof of your nationality and address. You'll also need to bring extra documents if:

  • you've been married or in a civil partnership before
  • you've changed your name

All documents must be original hard copies unless otherwise specified. We can't accept electronic versions of these, such as photos of originals or screenshots. Any documents not in English must have a full English translation by a third party.

Each person giving notice needs to bring one piece of evidence for each area that applies to them. If you don’t bring all of the documents you need you won’t be able to give notice.

Documents needed

Proof of nationality

A valid British passport is enough to prove your nationality.

If you don't have a valid British passport, see the following guidance and documents you can use to prove your nationality.

If you were born in the UK before 1 January 1983

  • UK birth certificate

If you were born in the UK between 1 January 1983 and 30 June 2006

  • Full UK birth certificate (showing your parents); and

  • Mother’s UK birth certificate (to prove you've inherited British nationality)

If you were born in the UK on or after 1 July 2006 and one/both of your parents were born before 1 January 1983

  • Full UK birth certificate (showing your parents); and

  • Full birth certificate of your parent who was born before 1 January 1983

If you were born in the UK on or after 1 July 2006 and your parents were born on or after 1 January 1983

See the GOV.UK guidance to check if you're a British citizen. If you don't have a valid British passport you can provide:

  • Full UK birth certificate showing your parents; and

    • Passport of the relevant parent (identifying them as a British citizen); or

    • Full birth certificate of the parent who was born on or after 1 January 1983 and birth certificate of the grandmother who was born before 1 January 1983

If you provide birth certificates, all names must link clearly from one generation to the next.

If your documents cannot be accepted, you'll need to apply for a British passport and bring this to your appointment to give notice. We therefore recommend giving notice as early as possible.

Depending on the GOV.UK guidance, you may need to provide valid documents to confirm your nationality. If this applies to you, call us on 01226 773555 before booking an appointment to give notice, so we can check whether your documents can be accepted.

Proof of address

  • Valid UK provisional or full driving licence.

  • Utility bill dated within three months of the date of giving notice, for a service you receive at your property - eg gas, electricity, water, landline phone, cable TV, or broadband (mobile phone bills are not accepted). PDF digital statements can be accepted as long as they show your full name and address.

  • Bank or building society statement dated within one month of the date of giving notice. PDF digital statements can be accepted as long as they show your full name and address.

  • Council Tax bill for the current year.

  • Mortgage statement - dated within 12 months of the date of giving notice.

  • Current residential tenancy agreement.

If you've been married or in a civil partnership before

  • UK decree absolute or final order.

  • Decree of nullity of marriage granted by a court of civil jurisdiction in England or Wales.

  • Civil partnership dissolution order.

  • Civil partnership nullity order obtained in England or Wales in accordance with Part 2 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004.

  • Marriage certificate and death certificate of your late spouse if you're widowed.

If you've changed your name following any of the above, you must also bring a document to link your current name to the dissolution document. You can bring either your:

  • marriage certificate

  • civil partnership certificate

  • deed poll certificate

If your divorce, annulment or dissolution was granted outside of the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man

A full translation of the document must be provided if your divorce, annulment or dissolution was granted outside of the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man.

You'll have to pay a fee of £55 for us to check the documents at your appointment. If the documents need to be forwarded to the General Register Office to check the fee is £83.

If you've changed your name

  • Change of name deed.

  • Marriage/civil partnership certificate if you've reverted to your maiden or birth name following dissolution of your marriage/civil partnership. This is to link your current name to the dissolution document.

See also...