Giving Notice

Giving Notice is a legal requirement, that anyone wishing to marry or form a civil partnership in England or Wales must complete before their ceremony can take place.

• Notices must be given at a Register Office in the district where you live. You do not both need to live in the same district, or live in the district where your ceremony will be taking place
• You will need to provide certain identification documents to the Registrar at your notice appointment
• A statutory fee of £35 per person is payable when booking your appointment
• Notices are venue specific. You will need to know where your marriage/civil partnership will be taking place before giving notice. Changing your venue once notice has been given will result in you needing to give new notices and paying the notice fee again
• Notice must be given at least 28 days before your ceremony
• Notice cannot be given more than 12 months in advance
• Notices are valid for 12 months. If your marriage/civil partnership does not take place within 12 months of giving notice, new notices will be needed
• A statutory waiting period of 28* full days must pass before you are able to marry or form a civil partnership

*This statutory waiting period may be extended if you and/or your partner are a non-EEA or Swiss national.

East Sussex has four Register Offices located in Crowborough, Eastbourne, Hastings and Lewes. 

If you live outside East Sussex you can find your local register office here.

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