Giving notice of marriage or civil partnership
Giving notice of marriage or civil partnership
If you wish to marry or form a civil
partnership you must make an appointment to give notice at the
register office in the district where you have lived for the last
seven full days prior to giving notice. If however you are getting
married in the Church of England please contact the Vicar of the
church for advice on legal requirements for marriages and fees.
Each partner is required to give an individual notice. If
you live in Knowsley you can book
an appointment online or by telephoning 0151 443 2900.
What documents do we need to bring to our appointment?
To prove your nationality, age & name you will need to bring
one of the following:
- current passport;
- current UK drivers licence; or
- British birth certificate.
If you are bringing your UK drivers licence or British birth
certificate and you were born in the UK after 1 January 1983, you
will also need to provide evidence of the nationality of your
parents. For further advice or guidance please contact the
office.
For proof of residence you will need to bring one of the
following:
- current UK drivers licence; or
- a bank statement, council tax bill or utility bill dated within
last 3 months.
For more information please contact us or visit www.direct.gov.uk
What if I have been married or entered into a civil partnership
before?
If either of you has been married or in a civil partnership
before (in the UK or abroad), you will need to provide evidence
that you are free to marry.
- If you were divorced in England or Wales we need to see a court
stamped copy of the decree absolute.
- If you were divorced abroad we need to see an English
translation of the original documents issued by that country. If no
documents were issued, we will tell you what we count as acceptable
proof of divorce.
- If you are widowed, we need to see a certified copy of your
partner's death certificate.
- If you have already married each other abroad, you will only
need to marry here if you don’t think the marriage is legal.
- If you are under eighteen, we need to see proof that your
parents agree to the marriage. If your parents are divorced, we may
need to see the custodial court order. Please speak to the register
office for further information.
Costs
The fee for each notice is £33.50 and is payable at the time of
giving the notice of marriage or civil partnership.
Fees for your ceremony will vary depending on the venue and day
of the week.
What happens after we give notice of marriage or civil
partnership?
Your notice will be displayed on the public notice board at the
register office. After 15 clear days of you will be issued
with a marriage authority or civil partnership schedule. This
must be given to the registration service in the district where
your marriage or civil partnership will be taking place or taken to
the church. The authority is valid for 12 months from the
date you gave notice (only for the venue you have specified).
Civil Marriage and Civil Partnership – Special Licences
If someone or their partner has a terminal illness it is
possible to get a licence to marry or form a civil partnership very
quickly without having to give the usual statutory notices. You
will need to speak to a Registrar who can provide further
information. Please contact the office on 0151 443 2900. If
you call out of office hours please follow the instructions
provided on the telephone message.