Giving notice is a legal requirement. Anyone wishing to marry or form a civil partnership in England or Wales must give notice before their ceremony can take place. The rules are different depending on your nationality and immigration status.
- A statutory fee of £35 or £47 per person is payable to give notice. The fee payable depends on your immigration status
- You must decide on the type of ceremony you will have (either a civil marriage or civil partnership) and the venue where this will take place. Neither the type of ceremony or venue can be changed once notice has been given. If you need to make changes to the notice after it's been given you will need to give fresh notices and pay the notice fee again.
- Notice cannot be given more than 12 months in advance of your civil marriage or civil partnership
- Notice must be given at least 28 days (or 70 days if you and/or your partner is a foreign national subject to immigration controls)before your civil marriage/civil partnership
- Notices are valid for 12 months. If your marriage or civil partnership does not take place within 12 months of giving notice, you will need to give fresh notices and pay the notice fee again
- Notice must be given in the district where you live regardless of where your ceremony is taking place
- You will need to provide certain identification documents to the Registrar at your notice appointment
- Notices are displayed at Crowborough Register Office for the duration of the statutory waiting period
If you are getting married or forming a civil partnership in East Sussex and live in East Sussex (excluding Brighton), notice appointments will be arranged for a suitable date, and booked at the same time as your ceremony.
If you and your partner are both 'relevant nationals' or have a Marriage or Fiancé VisaRelevant Nationals for the purpose of marriage/civil partnership in the UK are British, Irish, or EU citizens with European Union Settled Status (EUSS)
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If you live in East Sussex (excluding Brighton&Hove), you can give notice at any of 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’ who do not have a Marriage or Fiancé Visa
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If you live in East Sussex (excluding Brighton&Hove), you can give notice at any of 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 you and/or your partner live outside England and Wales
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If you are residing in East Sussex (excluding Brighton&Hove), you can give notice at any one of our offices in Crowborough, Eastbourne, Hastings, or Lewes. If you are staying outside East Sussex, you can find the local register office here. To book your notice appointment at an East Sussex Register Office, call us on 0345 60 80 198 |
Religious CeremoniesIf 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 AbroadFor information about what you need to do if you are holding your ceremony abroad click here. |
| Arranging a ceremony will require you to share some personal information with us. Refer to our Privacy Notice for details about how and why we use your data. |