Giving notice of intention

Last updated - 5 July 2023

 

If you wish to get married or form a civil partnership in England or Wales you must declare that you are legally free to do so.

To give notice at Hartlepool Register Office you need an appointment, please contact complete an appointment request form or call us on 01429 523337 

Appointment request form

 

Do I need to give notice?

If you are getting married in a Church of England or Wales church and both you and your partner are relevant nationals you do not normally need to give notice with a register office, instead you will complete Anglican preliminaries (external link). Speak to the church conducting the ceremony for further information.

If you are getting married in a Church of England or Wales church and either you or your partner, or both of you, are subject to immigration you will need to give notice.

All other marriages and all civil partnerships in England and Wales require notice to be given.

 

What is a relevant national / subject to immigration?

A relevant national is a person who meets one of the below criteria;

  • A British citizen
  • An Irish citizen
  • A person who has EU settled status or pre-settled status (external link)
  • A person who has a EU settled status pending application that they applied for on or before 30 June 2021

If a person is not one of the above list, or can not provide evidence to support the criteria, they are subject to immigration

Marriage / Civil partnership immigration

 

Where do we give notice?

Location and fee calculator

Relevant nationals

If you and your partner are both relevant nationals notice is given at your local register office (external link); if you and your partner live in different districts you will need to go to separate offices.

Subject to immigration*;

If you and / or your partner are subject to immigration control you will need to give notice together at your local register office (external link). If you live in different districts you can choose whether to attend your local office or your partner's local office.

*If you are both exempt from immigration controls in the UK (e.g. you have Right of Abode, diplomatic status or are serving in HM Forces) and can provide evidence, notice is given at your local register office (external link) .

 

When should we give notice?

Before giving notice, you must both have been resident at an address in England or Wales for at least seven consecutive days, not including the first day you start living at the address or the day you attend your appointment e.g. if you arrived at an address on the 1st of the month the first day you are able to give notice is the 9th of the month.

Notice can be given a maximum of 12 months prior to your ceremony. The latest you can give notice, unless a reduction is granted by General Register Office, is 29 days before the ceremony. If you are subject to immigration this may increase to 71 days prior to the ceremony. We advise that, where possible, you give notice 3-6 months before your ceremony.

 

Notice validity

Notices are valid for 12 months from when you give notice. The notice is only valid for the ceremony venue that you state at the time of your appointment. If you later decide to change the venue, or change your ceremony date outside of the 12 month period, notice will need to be given again.

 

How does I make an appointment at Hartlepool?

Complete a request form (below) or call us on 01429 523337

Appointment request form

 

How much does it cost?

Marriage and civil partnership fees

Please note we are currently only able to accept payment by debit / credit card. We are unable to accept American Express or Electron cards. We are not able to take payment by Apple Pay or Google Pay

 

What do I need to bring to my appointment? 

Required documents

 

What information will I need to give at my appointment?

You will be asked for your ceremony venue and information about both you and your partner such as name, age, address and occupation. The registrar will also ask if you would like your parents' information shown on your marriage / civil partnership schedule and asked for information about them if so. You will not be asked to provide your partner's parents' information.

 

Parents' information 

Up to four parents’ details can be recorded. It is up to the individual to decide the order in which the parents’ details are record i.e. whether their mother’s details are record first or their father’s details are. Parents may include;

  • Mother(s), natural, adoptive* or step parent**
  • Father(s), natural, adoptive* or step parent**
  • Parent(s), i.e a 2nd female parent

* Adoptive parent can be recorded if a legal adoption took place
** A step-parent is a person who is, or who has been married to or in a civil partnership with the mother, father or parent.

While many people will be delighted with the opportunity to include their mother, step-parents or other parent(s) others may prefer not to. It is not mandatory to provide parents' details.

If you choose to record parents' details the registrar will record;

  • Parent’s name
  • Occupation (or usual / last occupation)
  • If they are a step-parent
  • If they are deceased or living
  • If they are retired or working

 

More information

Further information can be found on the gov.uk guide to marriages and civil partnerships in England and Wales