Marriage Schedule System
The Marriages, Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Act 2019
The Act, implemented on Tuesday 4 May 2021, modernises how marriages are registered for the first time since 1837. A marriage schedule system is now in place with registrations for marriages taking place on or after 4 May been held on an electronic register.
The move from the paper registers will create a more secure system for keeping marriage records. The electronic register also allows for the names of up to four parents (mother/father/parent/step-parent) for each partner to be included in the marriage entry and on subsequent marriage certificates, instead of only fathers' names as is has been for marriages prior to 4 May 2021.
The changes apply to all marriages in England and Wales regardless of where the wedding is held (i.e. Register Office, church, religious premise, or approved premise).
What has changed?
Ceremonies at our venues and at approved marriage venues
- Couples and their witnesses will not be invited to sign a marriage register but will instead be asked to sign the marriage schedule. The marriage schedule is an A4 document which records all the information required to register the marriage.
- Couples will have the option to record up to four parents (mother/father/parent/step-parent) on the schedule and subsequently their marriage certificate.
- Couples will not receive marriage certificates on the day of the marriage. Marriage certificates will be posted to the couple within 7 days of the ceremony.
Ceremonies at a religious buildings in Hartlepool (not Church of England)
- Following notice of intention to marry our office will issue a marriage schedule to the couple.
- Couples and their witnesses will not be invited to sign a marriage register but will instead be asked to sign the marriage schedule. The marriage schedule is an A4 document which records all the information required to register the marriage.
- Couples will have the option to record up to four parents (mother/father/parent/step-parent) on the schedule and subsequently their marriage certificate.
- Couples will not receive marriage certificates on the day of the marriage.
- The relevant person from the religious building, or their representative, must return the signed schedule to our office within 21 days.
- The details of the marriage will be entered onto the electronic marriage register within 7 days of receipt, only then can a marriage certificate be issued.
- Information on obtaining a marriage certificate can be found here.
Ceremonies at a Church of England church in Hartlepool
- Following ecclesiastical preliminaries (Banns) the Minister will issue a marriage document.
- Couples and their witnesses will not be invited to sign a marriage register but will instead be asked to sign the marriage document. The marriage document is an A4 document which records all the information required to register the marriage.
- Couples will have the option to record up to four parents (mother/father/parent/step-parent) on the document and subsequently their marriage certificate.
- Couples will not receive marriage certificates on the day of the marriage.
- The Minister, or their representative, must return the signed schedule to our office within 21 days.
- The details of the marriage will be entered onto the electronic marriage register within 7 days of receipt, only then can a marriage certificate be issued.
- Information on obtaining a marriage certificate can be found here.
