Who needs to give notice?
If you are planning to marry or form a civil partnership at a register office or licensed venue in England and Wales, you are legally required to give notice of your intention.
Before booking your notice appointment, you should first confirm your ceremony booking with your chosen venue or registration office.
If you are planning a Church of England or Church in Wales ceremony, you will usually not need to give notice, unless either partner is subject to immigration control. In these cases, advice should be sought directly from the relevant parish.
For ceremonies taking place in other religious buildings, you must give legal notice once you have agreed arrangements with the officiant (and the registration office, if the building does not have an authorised person).
What is legal notice?
Giving notice is a legal requirement where each person formally declares their intention to marry or form a civil partnership.
- Notice must be given in person
- It is usually given at the register office in the district where each person lives
- Each notice is valid for 12 months and is specific to your chosen venue
Once given, your notice will be publicly displayed for 28 days. In some cases, this period may be extended to 70 days (for example, where immigration checks are required).
Please note:
Your next step is to give notice of marriage or notice of civil partnership no later than one month, and no sooner than 12 months before your ceremony date.
We suggest you make your notice appointment approximately 6 months before your ceremony date. Please contact the Registration Service in the area where you live to arrange an appointment.
It is your responsibility to ensure that notice of marriage or civil partnership is given within the required legal timescales. We will carry out a final review of your booking approximately 7 weeks before your ceremony date. If we are unable to confirm that notice has been given, or that an appointment has been arranged, we reserve the right to cancel your ceremony booking and release the date to other customers.
If you have any questions regarding giving notice, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can assist you.
Appointments book fast so we advise you book an appointment at least 6 months before the ceremony date.
Residency requirements
To give notice, you must have lived at your current address for at least 9 full days before your appointment.
If you are British, Irish, or an EEA citizen with EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status (granted or applied for before 1 July 2021):
- Each person must give notice in the district where they live
- If you both live in the same district, you may attend together or book separate appointments
If one or both of you are subject to immigration control (including non-EEA nationals or those without EUSS status):
- At least one of you must have lived in the district where the appointment takes place for 9 days
- You must attend your notice appointment together
Fees
A fee is payable at the time of booking your notice appointment.
Please be aware that fees are non-refundable and a rebooking fee will be payable if:
- You do not attend your appointment
- You fail to bring the required documents
How to book your appointment
You can book your notice appointment quickly and easily online.
Coventry residents, please select your preferred date and time: