Before you attend your appointment
Each person attending the appointment should bring the following documents:
- one proof of nationality document
- one proof of address document
- evidence that any previous marriage or civil partnership has ended (if applicable)
- change of name document (if applicable)
The exact documents you should bring are shown below.
All documents must be originals. If you do not provide all the required documents we may not be able to proceed with your appointment.
Any documents not in English must be accompanied by a third-party translation.
Proof of nationality
You must bring one of the following documents:
- valid passport
- if you are a British citizen born before 1983, your UK birth certificate
- if you are a British citizen born on or after 1 Jan 1983, your full UK birth certificate AND the UK birth certificate of your mother. The full birth certificate will show your mother’s name.
- OR if your father was married to your mother at the time of your birth: your full UK birth certificate and UK birth certificate of your father PLUS your parent’s marriage certificate. The full birth certificate will show your father’s name.
- If you are not a UK or Irish national, you must bring proof of your immigration status (in some cases this can mean you will have to wait 70 days before your ceremony can take place)
Proof of address
You must bring one of the following documents showing your current address:
- valid UK driving licence (provisional licence acceptable)
- original bank statement dated within one month of the appointment
- original council tax bill dated within one year of the appointment
- original utility bill (gas, electric, water or broadband) dated within three months of the appointment
- mortgage statement dated within one year of the appointment
- current tenancy agreement
Evidence that any previous marriage or civil partnership has ended
You must bring one of the following relevant documents:
- original Decree Absolute/Final Order or Certificate of Dissolution. If the divorce occurred in a foreign country there will be a fee for the paperwork to be considered of up to £75. This will be payable at your appointment
- death certificate of your former spouse. If you are not recorded on the certificate as being the spouse you must also bring your marriage certificate
Change of name
All documents must be in the names you are currently using. If not, you must show documents that link to current names, e.g. change of name deed, marriage/civil partnership certificate.
Marriages and civil partnerships overseas
If you are getting married or forming a civil partnership overseas, it is your responsibility to check that the civic authorities in that country will accept a Certificate of No Impediment, that the marriage/civil partnership will take place within the validity period of the certificate and the venue details will be recorded correctly. Use the GOV.UK tool to help you identify what you need to do in each country.
Contact us
Please contact us before your appointment if you have any questions about the documentation you need to bring.