Giving Notice

If you and your partner are both 'relevant nationals' or have a Marriage or Fiancé Visa

Relevant Nationals for the purpose of marriage/civil partnership in the UK are British, Irish, or EU citizens with European Union Settled Status (EUSS)

• Notices must be given at a Register Office in the district where each of you live. If you live in different districts, you need to give notice separately in your local districts. 
• Notices must be given at least 28 days before your ceremony.
• A statutory waiting period of 28 full days must pass before you are able to marry or form a civil partnership.
• The statutory fee for Giving Notice is £35 per person.

If you live in East Sussex, you can Give Notice at our offices in Crowborough, Eastbourne, Hastings, or Lewes. 

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

To book your notice appointment at an East Sussex Register Office, call us on 0345 60 80 198

If either you or your partner are 'foreign nationals’ and you do not have a Marriage or Fiancé Visa

• You must both attend the Register Office together. Notices must be given in the district where you live. If you live in separate districts you can choose which district to give notice in.
• Notices must be given at least 70 days before your ceremony.
• A statutory waiting period of 70 full days must pass before you are able to marry or form a civil partnership.
• The statutory fee for Giving Notice is £47 per person, unless you have evidence of your visa for the purpose of marriage in the UK.

If one or both of you live in East Sussex, you can Give Notice at our offices in Crowborough, Eastbourne, Hastings, or Lewes. 

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

To book your notice appointment at an East Sussex Register Office, call us on 0345 60 80 198

If you and/or your partner live outside England and Wales

Anyone wanting to marry or form a civil partnership in England or Wales must meet a residency requirement.

A residency within England or Wales must be established before notice can be given.

You must have resided at one address for at least 7 consecutive days prior to giving notice (this works out as 9 days. The day of arrival and day of your notice appointment do not count towards the 7 days).

You are free to leave the country once notice has been given. 

If one or both of you are residing in East Sussex, you can Give Notice at our offices in Crowborough, Eastbourne, Hastings, or Lewes. 

If you are staying outside East Sussex, you can find your local register office here.

To book your notice appointment at an East Sussex Register Office, call us on 0345 60 80 198

Religious Ceremonies 

If you are getting married in an Anglican church, the religious preliminaries will be followed. This involves the reading of the Banns. You will need to speak to the vicar to organise this. There is usually no involvement from the Register Office. However, if you and/or your partner are foreign nationals subject to immigration control you will be required to give notice at your local Register Office, as per the civil preliminaries above. 

If you are marrying in any other church or religious building notices will need to given at your local Register Office, as per the civil preliminaries above. 

Ceremonies Abroad

For information about what you need to do if you are holding your ceremony abroad click here.