In this section, you will find details of the legal requirements relating to your marriage. Specific requirements may apply to your personal circumstances.

Notice of marriage

Before you can marry in a register office, approved premises, church or chapel in England or Wales (other than a Church of England where you may have banns called), you must give notice of your intention to marry.

Each person wanting to marry has to give their own notice of intention to marry to the Superintendent Registrar or a nominated deputies) in the district in which they reside. Both parties must have resided in a district in England or Wales for at least 7 whole days immediately prior to giving a Notice of Marriage.

Essex Register Office is located in Brentwood.  However, if you are resident in the Essex County Council administrative area you can give your notice at the Essex Register Office or any of the other 7 registration Offices.  These are located in the following towns:- Benfleet, Braintree, Chelmsford, Colchester, Epping, Harlow and Saffron Walden.

This notice will then be displayed on the public notice board for 15 days at the Register Office in Brentwood, after which, provided all documentation has been received and cleared, an authority for your marriage to proceed will be issued.

If you live in a different Local Authority area (outside of Essex) to where the marriage will take place, you will need to apply for and obtain the authority for your marriage to take place. This authority must be delivered to the Minister of the church or Superintendent Registrar of the district where you are to marry.

You will still be able to marry in any register office or approved premises in England or Wales irrespective of where you live, and your notice can still be taken up to one year in advance of the date of your wedding. A fee of £30.00 is currently charged for each notice given.

Anyone who does not have the right of abode in England or Wales should contact the Home Office on 0870 606 7766 or contact any Registration Office, before making marriage arrangements.

If you are living abroad and do not have the right of abode in England or Wales you should contact the British Embassy in the country where you are living. You will not be permitted to marry if you enter England or Wales without the correct documentation.

People who are subject to immigration control who wish to marry in the United Kingdom (UK) must either:

•Hold entry clearance as a fiancé/e or marriage visitor, or

•Hold a Home Office certificate of approval, or

•Be a person with settled status in the UK (e.g. indefinite leave to remain) People who are subject to immigration control will also be required:

•to give notice to marry to a registrar at one of 76 designated register offices in England and Wales (Essex Register Office, Brentwood is one of the Designated Offices Tel 01277 233565). They must attend the register office together.

•In Scotland and Northern Ireland, all register offices are designated. Notice to marry is normally given by post.

Links to: Foreign and Commonwealth Office www.fco.gov.uk/en and DirectGov www.direct.gov.uk

Proof of identity

When you give notice of your marriage, you need to give proof of your identity and the identity of the person you are marrying.

Documents will include:

• Passports or Full Birth Certifcate
• Divorce Decree Absolutee (if previously married)
• Dissolution Order (If previously in a Civil Partnership)
• Certificates or other documentation to confirm marital or civil partnership status, residence, nationality and names.

Documents for divorced or widowed partners

If either of you has been married before, either in this country or abroad, you will need to show proof of your divorce.

If either of you was divorced in England or Wales, we will need to see a court stamped copy of the decree absolute (the final divorce paper).

If the divorce took place in a foreign country, we will need to see the original document issued by that country and an English translation, if the document is in a foreign language. If no documents were issued in the foreign country, we will tell you what we can accept as proof of the divorce.

If either of you is a widow or widower, we will need to see a certified copy of your partner's death registration and in certain cases a copy of the marriage certificate as well.

Proof of prior marriage in a foreign country

If you have married each other in a foreign country, you only need to get married here if you think the marriage was not legal. If you decide to get married here, we will need to see any documents issued by that country when you give us notice of your marriage.

Parental permission for partners under 18

If either of you is under 18, we will need to see proof that your parents or guardian agree to the marriage.

If your parents are divorced, we may also need to see the court order that gives custody to one of them. The Registration staff will give you advice on this matter.