Give notice

How to give notice that you intend to marry or form a civil partnership, and the documents you will need.

Giving notice is a legal requirement and involves attending an appointment at a register office. At the appointment you will declare:

  • who you intend to marry or form a civil partnership with
  • where the ceremony will take place
  • that you are legally free to get married or form a civil partnership

When and where to give notice

You must give notice at least 29 days before the ceremony. In certain cases, depending on your immigration status, this may be extended to 71 days.

You must have been resident in the district covered by that register office for at least the previous 7 complete days. You must give notice at the registration office in the district you live in. If you and your partner live in different registration districts, you must each give notice separately. For more information on residency, please contact the registration service.

Although you can give notice up to 12 months ahead of your ceremony, we recommend you give notice 3 - 6 months before your ceremony. Please note the period to give notice may be extended depending upon immigration status.

Registration service

Email: registration.service@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Telephone: 0300 373 3300

Book an appointment to give notice

Once you have booked your ceremony, you can book an appointment to give notice. Although you can give notice up to 12 months ahead of your ceremony, we recommend you give notice 3 to 6 months before your ceremony.

Book notice of marriage

Book notice of civil partnership

Notices are specific to a particular venue and only valid for 12 months. This means you will not be able to make an appointment more than 12 months ahead of your ceremony date. You can also see all of the registration service fees, including the cost of booking a notice appointment.

Situations where you will need advice

You will need some specialist guidance from us if:

  • either of you are not currently legally free to get married or form a civil partnership
  • either of you have been related to each other by blood, marriage, adoption, civil partnership or surrogacy
  • you have not yet made a provisional booking for your ceremony
  • either of you lives outside England or Wales
  • your ceremony is to take place outside England or Wales
  • either person is subject to immigration control
  • you require a ceremony to take place in less than 28 days for critical reasons
  • you ceremony is to take place in a religious building

Registration service

Email: registration.service@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Telephone: 0300 373 3300

Getting married abroad

See getting married abroad on GOV.UK to find out where to get advice about local marriage laws and what documents you will need.