Marriage notice forms

A marriage notice form helps the Registrar collect information about your ceremony and prepare your details for registration.

About the forms

Both of you should fill out a marriage notice form and return them to the Registrar of the district in which you are to marry, along with the relevant documents and fees.

For example, if your marriage takes place in Belfast but you live in Armagh, you will need to complete your marriage notice forms in Belfast.

Our Registrar's office is located in Belfast City Hall.

A marriage notice form lasts for 12 months from the date of notice.

Download a marriage notice form and guidance notes (PDF - 66KB)

Documents you will need

When returning your marriage notice forms, both of you must provide the following documents:

your full (long version) birth certificate (authorised photocopies are not acceptable).
your passport or national identity card - the Registrar can advise on alternatives if you do not hold either of these
a consent form (if you aged 16 or 17) - these are available from the Registrar.
if you have been married before and the marriage was dissolved, a certificate of divorce or annulment or a certified copy decree (decrees must be absolute or final).
If you have been married more than once, only the documents for your most recent marriage are required.
if you have entered into a civil partnership before, a court order of dissolution for that partnership.
if you are a widow, widower or surviving civil partner, the death certificate of your former spouse or civil partner.

Full terms and conditions relating to these documents, as well as information about nationality requirements, are available from the guidance notes which accompany your marriage notice form.

Foreign divorce

If you have been divorced outside of the UK or the Republic of Ireland, you must fill in a foreign divorce form and return it along with your marriage notice forms.

Download a foreign divorce form (PDF - 19KB)

When to give notice

You must tell us about your plans to get married in the 12 month period before your wedding date, and no later than 14 days before your ceremony.

Notices should usually be with the Registrar about eight weeks before your ceremony but, if either of you has been married before, forms should be submitted ten weeks before.

No appointment is necessary.

Don't delay giving notice to the Registrar because you don't have the relevant documents - it is better to give notice first and return any outstanding documents at a later date.

However, all relevant documents must be returned to the Registrar before a civil marriage can take place.

Type of marriage

If you are having a religious ceremony, you should speak to your officiant before filling out your marriage notice forms as s/he will need to sign them.

Your forms should then be posted or delivered to the Registrar.

If you are having a civil ceremony, you should make advance arrangements with the Registrar.

This is particularly important during busy times of the year.

Returning your forms

Marriage notice forms do not have to be returned in person.

However, at least one of you must visit the Registrar's office before your ceremony to collect your marriage schedule (if you are having a religious marriage) or, in the case of a civil marriage, to finalise arrangements with the Registrar.

You will be asked to sign a declaration, stating that the information you and your partner have given is correct.

The Registrar may also need further details from you, such as whether your parents were married.

They can then prepare your marriage schedule from the information you have provided, allowing your wedding to take place.

The schedule will then be signed by both partners, by the Registrar and by two witnesses on the day of your ceremony.