Wedding Forum - Giving Notice/Banns - Your Questions...

(could one of the mods please make this sticky)

Every week someone asks about this so I'm starting this thread

You are legally required to give notice if you are getting married anywhere except the C of E and Anglican Church. Giving notice allows you to receive your marriage licence which is the legal document necessary to get married in the UK.
If you're getting married in C of E or Anglican Church then you have your Banns read over 3 consecutive Sundays. 99% of Churches insist you attend Church when your Banns are read.
This is a process to ensure there is no legal reason why you should not be married and allows anyone with any legal objection to the marriage to speak up and give their reasons as to why you should not be allowed to marry (so if you've 'forgotten' to divorce your ex hubby you've had it :P)

If you're in doubt as to whether or not you need Notice or Banns then speak to your officiant ASAP - you need to have held your marriage licence for 6-8 weeks (depends on your county) and your licence is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

For Banns and Notice you will need to produce the following documents;
Birth Certificate/Passport - if you were born after 1983 (I think) then you need to produce a FULL birth certificate (some districts require both, check at the time of booking)
Proof of address - this could be a bank statement, utility bill or full driving licence
If you have had your name changed by deed poll then you must produce the documentation saying you've legally changed your name
If you're divorced you need to produce your Decree Absolute
If you're unfortunate enough to be a widow then you must produce your former spouse's death certificate
If you've been adopted you need to produce your adoption certificate

I'm not sure on the fee for Banns being read but if I believe correctly then it's all included in your Church fees. If you're giving notice the current charge is £33.50 each so £67 per couple.

For giving notice you must apply to the local registry office. An appointment will be made for you to see the Superintendent Registrar - it's at this point everyone gets worried :D
You turn up at your appointment with all your necessary documents and the Registrar takes you into a room and looks at your documentation to check it's all in order. Then they ask to speak to you seperately - you're asked your partner's name, DOB, address, occupation and whether or not they've ever been known legally by another name, and if so what was their name. For the Brides (not sure about the Grooms) you're asked your Father's full name, occupation and whther or not you're happy to have him named on your marriage licence.
Once the Registrar is satisfied and has robbed you of your hard earned cash (Ross' way of putting it lol) you sign your Decleration of notice. This is then posted in the Town Hall for 15 days to allow for objections - don't worry, they HAVE to be legal objections, the psycho ex can't wander in and say "I don't want them to get married because I'm jealous"
On the 16th day, providing no legal objections have arisen, your notice is taken down and your licence is produced and sent to you.

Hey presto! You're now legally ready to get married :)
Hope that helps you all out a bit
xxx

hmmm you must do it different in england the fact you have to "Make an appointment" .i just walked in, got taken to a little booth and she checked over my paper work

to add to the point about being born AFTER 1983, you need BOTH birth certifcate AND passport x

Dont forget the other charges. You have the 33.50 each (mine is actually 35 each) for the certificates then on top of that you have to pay for the registra to come to your venue (most ask for two to attend) if your having a hotel, then you have to pay for the legal work etc like all the papers that will have to be filed.
So when you go DON'T expect to pay £67 and thats it because it won't be. Mine will be £420.50 all in but it depends WHERE you are, as some ladies on here are paying less and some are paying more.

yeh it varies i think hun in england, scotland and wales..not sure about ireland

and the fact that we didnt have to have the full birth certficate mainly cause ive lost my full one, so they accepted the abbreviated one..just double check this before u go !

good thread

hang on, just read becca's reply

lol mina

I'm bookmarking this just to be safe :)

Its ok, done a bit of research... dont need the authority as we are getting married at the registry office where notice was given, phew!

i was told twice - once when we gave notice and again on my wedding day that i had no choice as to weather i wanted my fathers details on my wedding licence. The registrar was quite shocked when i said that i didn't know how to spell my fathers mddle name. (i have not seen or heard from him in years and now he is deceased) i clearly told her that i didn't want his details on as he left my mum when i was only 3 (37yrs ago) and i felt he had no right to be. she just told me that it was a legal requirement and i would have to put up with it. So to make myself feel better i chose my mum to sign as a witness.

this is a great postxx

love this thread!!,we only had to take our birth certificates not passports,our charges were £30 each at giving notice so a total of £60 and then £100 on the day

i wasnt allowed my step dad on mine :-( i really wanted it too x

You're best off ringing the Registrar hayleypooh - as far as I'm aware the name on the marriage licence needs to match exactly to the birth certificate (unless you've had your name changed by deed poll)
xxx

It's like anything related to the council - they're great unless you need them. Hope you get it sorted out my lovely xxx

did anyone have trouble getting hold of the registar to book appointment for giving notice i have been trying all week with no luck so far xx

Finally got a phone call back so now booked to give notice on 1st November as wouldnt let me book before then xx

im giving notice in 7 days! aghhhhh!

Thanks guyys this infor is really useful! xx

Re the forms of identification: my registrar (Cumbria County Council) has asked for;

a) Proof of identity, two pieces usually a passport plus birth certificate or driving licence
b) Proof of address, bill or bank statement, official letter with current address.

I was getting worried by the earlier post that I would need my passport as I have lost it and they are a fortune to replace so I don't want to do it until I change my name!

Also in our district it is £33.50 per person (that bit amuses me, how many people do they think are getting married! Hehe- Yes, I know it is because you have to give notice individually in the district in which you live)

I'm getting married in April and the registrar has just said that I can give her a call to come in anytime after August and it will only take 10 minutes.

About having to state my father's name and occupation, I'm not too happy about that, my father has wanted nothing to do with me since he met the woman to whom he is now married... I hope my registrar doesn't make me!

were having ours done on friday, i was nervous but now ive read this i feel better :) thank you xx

i had to ring my local registry office and ask to make an appointment for giving notice of marriage, i rung them last week and going doing it this week

Great post hun! :) x

do you have to have a passport to give notice? my h2b doesnt have a passport. he has got a birth certificate & driving liscence. will he be able to give notice? or does he need to get a passport before he gives notice? is there anyway you can give notice without a passport? sorry for all the questions. any help would be really apprieciated x x