You must sign a legal statement at your local register office to say you intend to get married or form a civil partnership. This is known as ‘giving notice’.
Notice can be given (served) within 12 months but no later than 29 days before your ceremony.
For example, if you give notice on 1 May, the earliest date you can get married or form a civil partnership is 30 May.
You must hold your ceremony within 12 months of giving notice.
Where to give notice
You will need to visit one of our register offices to give notice. You must have lived in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole for the past 7 full days.
For example if you arrive in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole on 1 May you will not be able to give notice until 9 May.
You and your partner will need to give notice separately if you live in different registration districts. You do not have to do this on the same day.
Giving notice outside of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
If you given notice with a registration service outside of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, we will have been notified. You would not expect to hear from us about this unless there was a discrepancy with the details on your notice.
If one or both of you is from outside the UK
You and your partner must give notice together, unless you both have one of the following:
- British or Irish citizenship
- settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
- an application to the EU Settlement Scheme that you made before 30 June 2021, which you’re waiting for a decision on
You must give your notice together at a register office in the district where at least one of you lives.
Cost of giving notice
It costs £42 per person to give notice of marriage or civil partnership.
The fee is £57 per person if you or your partner is from outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland, and you do not have:
- evidence of settled or permanent resident status - in the form of an eVisa
- a marriage or civil partnership visa
- exemption from immigration control
Fees may change depending on current legislation.
Documents you'll need to give notice
GOV.UK has details on the documents you will need to give notice, as well as information about if:
- you’ve been married or in a civil partnership before
- you or your partner are from outside the UK
Book an appointment to give notice
You can book an appointment to give notice using our booking system.
Book an appointment to give notice if you do not have settled status
If you do not have settled status, you must fill out our DRO form.
Once sent to us, we will be in contact to book an appointment.
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