Olivier Burnside
Evoke Pictures
Documents required One of the registration staff will interview you in private. In all cases evidence of identity and nationality will be required. The preferred document is a current passport. If you do not have a passport there are other documents which may be acceptable: please contact us for advice. We also require proof of residence: A bank statement no more than 1 month old at the time of the appointment, a utility bill no more than 3 months old at the time of the appointment, the current council tax bill, mortgage statement or tenancy agreement or valid driving licence are acceptable. If either of you have been married or through a civil partnership before, either in this country or abroad, you will need to produce evidence that the previous marriage or civil partnership has ended. If you are divorced, and your divorce was in England or Wales the document required is a Decree Absolute. If the divorce was elsewhere you must produce the original document issued by the court and, if not written in English, a third party translation. A fee of either £50 or £75 is payable for the consideration of any divorce granted outside the British Isles. This will be done by either the register office or the General Register Office, dependent on where the divorce was granted, and will enable your ceremony to go ahead. If you are widowed, bring the death certificate of your former spouse.
This is usually followed by an exchange of rings, after which the Superintendent Registrar will declare you are now married. To conclude, the couple and their witnesses will sign the marriage schedule. It is essential that you check the schedule entry carefully before signing. Any mistakes can only be corrected if they are noticed straight away. Once signed, only by a formal application to the General Register Office can any error be amended and will incur a fee of £90. There will then be an opportunity for photographs. If you wish to know more about marriage ceremonies at the register office or approved venues, please ask your registrar for details. We are here to give guidance and support throughout and will do everything within our power to make your day happy and memorable.
If you have changed your name legally please bring the legal document with you. Our registration staff will advise you which documents are required, depending on your own personal circumstances. Please be aware that photocopies are not acceptable. The Marriage Ceremony On the day you must bring at least two people with you to be witnesses to your marriage. You can choose any relative or friend as long as they are old enough to understand what is taking place. Please arrive at least fifteen minutes before the ceremony is due to begin as we will need to check the details taken at the time of the notice. The Superintendent Registrar will welcome everyone and introduce the registrar. You will be reminded of the legal definition of marriage and of the solemn and binding character of the vows you will be making to each other. In order for the marriage to be legal you must make two declarations, which will be repeated after the registrar. Firstly that there is no legal impediment to your marriage and secondly that you take one another to be legally married.
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