When you attend your notice appointment, you must bring original documents to confirm your name, age, nationality, address, and—if relevant—any previous name changes or evidence that any previous marriage or civil partnership has ended.
Photocopies, digital copies, or screenshots are not acceptable. If you do not bring the correct documents, your notice cannot be taken.
- Proof of Name, Age, and Nationality
You must bring at least one of the following original documents:
- Valid passport
- If you do not have a valid passport and were born in the UK on or after 1 January 1983, you must bring:
- Your full birth certificate showing your parent(s)’ names, and
- The passport or birth certificate of the parent from whom you derive your nationality (this is your mother, or either natural parent if your parents were married at the time of your birth).
- If your parent’s name differs from the name on your birth certificate, you must also bring evidence of their name change.
- Full birth certificate
- Certificate of naturalisation
- Valid Travel Document
Additional requirements for 'Non-UK Nationals'
- Proof of your immigration status via a share code from the UK Visas and Immigration Services.
- Both parties giving Notice may also be required to submit a passport-sized photograph.
- Proof of Address
You must provide one of the following documents showing your current address:
- Valid UK driving licence
- Gas, water, or electricity bill dated within the last 3 months
- Bank or building society statement dated within the last 1 month (not a credit card statement)
- Council Tax bill dated within the last 12 months
- Mortgage statement dated within the last 12 months
- Current tenancy agreement
- Letter from the property owner confirming your residence, including their name, address, signature, and dated within the last 7 days
Only the documents listed above can be accepted as proof of address. We cannot accept any other documents not on this list.
- If you have been married or in a civil partnership before
You must provide either one of the following:
- Decree absolute / final order of divorce / annulment
- If you have had the divorce outside the British Isles, additional non-refundable fees (payable at the notice appointment) will apply for the divorce document to be verified
- Death certificate of your former spouse or civil partner
- Additional Requirements for ‘Non-Relevant Nationals’
A non-relevant national is anyone who is not:
- a British citizen
- an Irish citizen
- a person with settled, pre-settled, or pending status under the EU Settlement Scheme
If this applies to you, you must also bring:
- Proof of your current immigration status, for example:
- Your UK visa or UK E-visa
- Your immigration share code
- One passport-style photograph for each person, even if only one partner is a non-relevant national
- Certified translations of any documents that are not in English
If you or your partner is a non-relevant national without a visa or are unable to make the appropriate immigration statement, the immigration authorities at the Home Office will be notified.
- Interpreter Requirements
If you do not speak and understand English, you must bring an interpreter to your appointment. This must be a third person. Your partner cannot be your interpreter. If you are unable to arrange an interpreter, the council can provide one free of charge. Please inform us in advance if you require this service.
For information visit: Our ceremonies
Marriages and civil partnerships carried out abroad are legally recognised in England and Wales. They cannot usually be registered here. In some cases, a record may be lodged with General Registered Office (GRO) via British Council (fees apply)
If you plan to marry or form a civil partnership abroad:
- You must contact the relevant country’s embassy for information and requirements.
- You must follow the legal requirements of the country where the ceremony will take place.
- You may require a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI)
- Applies to UK Citizens only
- Is issued after 28 days subject to giving Notice
- Is obtained by giving Notice at your local Register office (see above for documentary requirements for Notices)
- Confirms you are legally free to marry or form a civil partnership
- Some countries only accept CNI for 3 months from date of giving Notice
- Additional documents may be required depending on the country
Note: CNI’s are not accepted in every country. Please check www.gov.uk website if one is required in your country of ceremony or circumstance.
If travelling abroad after marriage you can update your married name on your passport up to three months before your ceremony. To do this you must:
- Fill in your section of the PD2 form
- Bring the PD2 form to the Register office in the district in which your ceremony is taking place to be signed.
- To download the PD2 form visit: Passports for newlyweds and civil partners - GOV.UK
- For more information visit: Getting married abroad
If you are marrying in a Church of England or Church in Wales, you do not need to contact the Register Office. For all other religious venues, you must give formal Notice of Marriage at your local Register Office and provide the required documents for Giving Notice of Marriage or Civil Partnership mentioned above.
- For information visit: Our ceremonies
A non-statutory baby naming ceremony can be held at the City Suite or City Archives or at any approved premises within the city. You will be required to provide:
- Birth certificate
- Booking of a venue
- Registrar attendance fee
For information visit: Our ceremonies
For non-statutory Renewal of Vows ceremonies, you will be required to provide:
- Marriage/civil partnership certificate required before booking
- Booking of a venue
- Registrar attendance fee
For information visit: Our ceremonies
To apply for re-registration of your children you must:
- Complete form LA1 (one form per child). Download the LA1 re-registration application form
- Provide original birth certificate of the child(ren)
- Provide your original marriage or original civil partnership certificate
Note: Photocopies are not acceptable
Once all documents are received, the Register Office will contact you to arrange an in-person re-registration appointment.
- For more information on re-registering your children please visit Re-registering your children
- For information on registering a birth please visit Register a birth or a death
This applies to people with pensions from foreign countries. To apply, you must provide the following documents at the reception desk at the Civic Centre on any working day during office working hours. No booking required when to attend:
- Original photo ID (Example a passport or a driving licence)
- Original form from the pension agency
- The fee, £21.50, payable by card at the point of service