You must sign a legal statement at your local register office to say you intend to get married or form a civil partnership. This is known as 'giving notice'. It’s a legal requirement.
This is an appointment with a registrar where you confirm:
- who you intend to marry or form a civil partnership with
- where the ceremony will take place
- that you are legally free to do so
When to give notice
You must give notice at least 29 days before your ceremony.
In some immigration cases, this can be extended to 71 days.
Where to give notice
You give notice at the register office for the area where you live not where the ceremony will take place. For example, if you live in Newcastle upon Tyne and your ceremony is taking place in North Tyneside, you will give notice in Newcastle upon Tyne.
If you and your partner live in different areas, you must each give notice separately in those areas.
When to book
We recommend giving notice:
- no more than 6 months before your ceremony
- no later than 6 weeks before the date
Your notice:
- is for one venue only
- lasts 12 months
If you change venue, you must give notice and pay the fee again.
To make an appointment to give notice please phone 0191 2787878 and ask for 'registrars'.
What to bring to your notice appointment
You must bring the correct, original documents.
If you do not, we cannot take your notice.
You must bring your birth certificate when you give notice.
If you use a different name to your birth certificate, you must also bring proof of your name change, such as:
- a deed poll, or
- a marriage or civil partnership certificate
You must also bring:
- a valid passport, or
- a Home Office travel document
People without a passport
The documents you need to prove your identity depend on when you were born.
Born in the UK on or before 31 December 1982
Bring:
- proof you still use the name on your birth certificate (for example, a bill or bank letter), or
- evidence that your name has changed (deed poll, marriage or birth certificate)
Born in the UK on or after 1 January 1983
Bring:
- proof that at least one parent was British or settled in the UK
You must also bring extra documents to prove your nationality:
Parents married when you were born
Bring your parents’ marriage certificate if:
- your parents were married when you were born
- your mother was not a British citizen
Parents not married when you were born
Your nationality is based on your mother.
Bring documents that show your mother’s nationality.
For example:
- your mother’s passport
- your mother’s birth certificate
- proof your mother was settled in the UK when you were born
Proof of address
You can only give notice in Newcastle upon Tyne if you have lived here for at least 7 full days before your appointment.
Bring one of:
- council tax bill (last 12 months)
- UK driving licence
- gas, water or electricity bill (last 3 months)
- bank statement (last month)
- letter from your landlord or housing association
Immigration status
If you are not a British citizen, bring proof of your immigration status.
Most proof is now online (eVisa). You may need a share code.
Any document not in English must include a full English translation.
Immigration rules
Extra checks are required when one or both of you are not British or Irish citizens.
You must pay a fee. This is because the council must carry out additional legal checks and work with the Home Office before the marriage can go ahead.
These checks confirm:
- your immigration status
- that you are allowed to marry in the UK
- that all legal requirements are met
You must also bring:
- one passport size photo each
- proof of immigration status
- translations of documents not in English
- a debit or credit card to pay the fee
Your paperwork will be issued:
- after 29 days, or
- after 71 days where the Home Office is involved
Previous marriages or civil partnerships
People who have been married or in a civil partnership before, bring:
- a decree absolute or final dissolution document, or
- a death certificate
If this happened outside the UK or Republic of Ireland, we must check it before you can proceed.
A non‑refundable fee applies.
Checklist on what to bring
Bring:
- your birth certificate
- a valid passport or Home Office travel document
- proof of address (for example, a bill or bank statement)
If this applies to you, also bring:
- proof of any name change (for example, a deed poll or marriage certificate)
- proof of your immigration status and a share code (if you are not British)
- a passport-size photo (if immigration checks apply)
- proof of your parents’ nationality (if born in the UK after 1 January 1983 and no passport)
- documents for previous marriages or civil partnerships (for example, decree absolute or death certificate)
- English translations for any documents not in English