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Reading Register Office

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How to Register for Intention to Marry

In order to get married either in a Register Office or Approved Venue for Civil Marriages due notice must be given to the Superintendent Registrar in the district(s) of residence of the parties to the marriage. This must be done by both parties in person, a relative or friend cannot give a notice on your behalf.

Giving notice means declaring that you are free to marry each other and will require you to provide certain documents. You may do this up to one year before the day of your wedding.

Before a notice can be taken both parties must have resided in a registration district in England or Wales for at least seven days previously.

At Reading (and many other Register Offices) the Superintendent Registrar sees parties wishing to be married by appointment. These are made on (Monday to Friday between 09.00 - 16.30 except Wednesday 09.30 - 16.30 by appointment). (Please telephone 0118 901 5120 to make an appointment). It would be appreciated if both parties to the marriage attend together if they are both resident in Reading Borough.

When notice of marriage is given there are certain documents that must be seen by the Superintendent Registrar.

Evidence of nationality, identity and age must be provided by means of a Passport and Birth Certificate. If a Passport is unavailable the Superintendent will advise on alternative documentary proof.

You may also be asked to provide proof of residence. This may be in the form of a utility bill, bank statement etc., showing your name and address.

If either party has been through any form of marriage in this or any other country they will have to provide evidence as to how that marriage was ended.

If either party was widowed then a certified copy of the death certificate must be produced (If this is not in English then a translation will also be required).

If any previous marriage was terminated by divorce or annulment in either a British or Commonwealth country then the original decree bearing the court's official stamp (usually in red ink) will be required. If the divorce was in any other overseas country the divorce document (and a translation if the document is not in English) will need to be sent to the General Register Office for their authority before the marriage can take place.

If either party is under the age of 18 (regardless of where they were born ) then a full birth certificate showing the parental details of that person and written confirmation of the appropriate parental consent will also be required. If the parents are separated or divorced further evidence of court orders may be required.

If any of the names of the parties have been changed and you have documentary evidence of this, then these documents should be produced when notice is given.

The Superintendent Registrar's Certificare for Marriage

After giving notice, details of your marriage are published on the marriage notice board at the Register Office for 15 days before you can marry. Your marriage ceremony can then take place within 12 months of the date that you gave notice.

The Superintendent Registrar will tell you when the certificate which authorises your marriage is due to be issued. This will be the earliest date on which you may be married.

If you are getting married in another district you will need to take both certificates to that district before the day of the marriage.

Fees

You will have to pay fees for giving a notice of marriage, the marriage ceremony and the marriage certificate. All these fees are reviewed each year and details are available on request.

Religious Marriage

If you are planning a Church of England marriage you need to see the vicar of the parish church where you live, it is very unlikely that you will have to visit the Register Office. If you wish to be married in the church of another Christian denomination or in the building of another religion, you must give notice in the same way as for marriage in the Register Office. You must usually live in the district where you plan to marry unless it is your usual place of worship.

Approved Venues for Reading District

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