Marriages, civil weddings and civil partnerships 

Notice of marriage 

• Civil partnerships 

  The legal registration of a partnership between 2 people of the same sex, came into force on 5 December 2005. This means that they will have same rights in law as married couples.

  The legal requirements to enter into a civil partnership will be exactly the same as for 2 people entering a marriage, that is over the age of 16 years (parental consent required if under 18), and legally free to enter into the partnership. In other words, not already married or in a registered partnership with someone else.

  The preliminaries about notice will be the same as marriage, but there will be no requirement for the couple to have a ceremony. The couple will attend with 2 witnesses before a registrar in order to register their partnership.

  The registration service here in Barking and Dagenham is offering couples the opportunity to celebrate their registration with family and friends at a bespoke ceremony conducted at Arden House, or any of the approved venues in the borough, at which time they will be presented with a commemorative certificate signed by the couple, their witnesses and the celebrant.

   

• Civil weddings 

  Civil weddings are becoming more and more popular because they bring out the best in people.

  They are a favourite activity among the staff of Eastbury Manor House and Arden House Register Office who do everything possible to make your day special.

  The 2 venues offer the chance to get married without the religious connotations of a church wedding.

  Arden House

  The elegantly styled and intimate room has seating for 28 guests, plus some standing room at the back.

  Take advantage of the award-winning gardens for your photographs. Arden House is regularly awarded a London in Bloom certificate. The gardens are walled and are only available for the use of wedding parties at Arden House.

  Provisional bookings can be made up to 12 months in advance.

   

• Approved premises  

  Since 1 April 1995, the Marriage Act 1994 has allowed suitable privately owned premises to be licensed for marriage ceremonies, offering a vast choice of type, location and cost. You may marry at any approved premises in England or Wales.

  To book a marriage at an Approved Premises, contact the proprietor of the building. You will also need to book Registration Officers to conduct the ceremony.

   

• Proof of identity 

  • When you give notice of your marriage, you need to give proof of your identity and the identity of the person you are marrying
  • Passports are an ideal way of proving your identity. If you have never held a passport or your passport is not available for some reason, we will accept other proof of your identity and our staff will be happy to discuss this with you

   

• The legal formalities 

  Both of you must have lived in a registration district in England or Wales for at least 7 days immediately before giving notice at the register office. If you both live in the same district, you will each give notice at the same office. If you live in different registration districts, you will each give notice separately in your own area.

  However, if you are a non-European Union citizen and have the relevant documentation to enable you to marry in the United Kingdom, you must both attend together at a designated Register Office. Barking and Dagenham is a designated office.

  A notice of marriage is valid for 12 months. You may therefore not give notice of marriage to the Superintendent Registrar more than 12 months before the date of your wedding.

  A notice of marriage is valid only for the venue named on the notice. Whereas it may be possible to alter the date of your marriage (provided it is before the expiry date), a change of location would require a fresh notice and fee.

  After giving notice you must wait a further 15 clear days before the marriage can take place (for example, if notice is given on 1st July, the marriage may take place on or after 17th July).

  BOTH authorities must have been issued on or before the day of the marriage.

   

• Documents for divorced or widowed partners 

  • If either of you have been married before, either in this country or abroad, you will need to show proof of your divorce
  • If either of you were divorced in England or Wales, we will need to see a court stamped copy of the decree absolute (the final divorce paper)
  • If the divorce took place in a foreign country, we will need to see the original document issued by that country and an English translation, if the document is in a foreign language. If no documents were issued in the foreign country, we will tell you what we can accept as proof of the divorce
  • If either of you are a widow or widower, we will need to see a certified copy of your partner's death registration and in certain cases a copy of the marriage certificate as well

   

• Parental permission for partners under 18 

  • If either of you are under 18, we will need to see proof that your parents or guardian agree to the marriage
  • If your parents are divorced, we may also need to see the court order that gives custody to 1 of them. The Superintendent Registrar will give you advice on this matter

   

• Changing your name following marriage or civil partnership 

  Will I have to change my name following marriage or civil partnership?

  There is no legal requirement for either party to change their name, it is purely a matter of personal choice.

  If either person wishes to change their name they should notify all of the organisations and government departments who hold personal records about them, for example the Identity and Passport Service, DVLA, credit cards and bank.

  To make this process as quick and easy as possible, Barking and Dagenham Register Office is pleased to introduce the New Name Kit an online system that enables you to quickly and easily notify UK organisations about your change of name.

  The New Name Kit includes an online database of thousands of UK organisations, and is provided by our partner the Name Change Company Limited.

  Will I need a deed of change of name?

   

• Documents Required by Law 

  When you attend before a Superintendent Registrar to make formal arrangements, you will need to produce certain documents to confirm your name, age, marital status and nationality.

  Preferred documents are:

  • A current valid full passport (or, where appropriate, a Home Office Travel Document, a Standard Acknowledgement letter, or a national identity card) or, if unavailable
  • A birth certificate and a second document such as a bank book/statement, council tax or utility bill

  Also required:

  • If you have been widowed, the death certificate of your former spouse
  • If you are divorced, a decree absolute bearing the court's original stamp
  • Deed Poll documents if you have changed your name
  • A completed parental consent form if you are under 18 years of age

   

• Costs 

  From 1st April 2012 you will each be charged a fee of £35.00 when you give notice.

  Plus:

  • A marriage at the Register Office will be £45 (plus a marriage certificate) payable on the day
  • A marriage at approved premises will incur a fee to the proprietors of the premises, and a fee for the attendance of the Registration Officers, which is variable depending on the day on which the ceremony takes place
  • A marriage at a place of religious worship will incur a fee to the Minister of the Building (variable); in addition, if a Registrar is required to register the marriage, a fee of £84 plus certificate is payable on the day
  • A marriage at a Church of England or Church in Wales does not generally involve the Register Office; enquiries about fees must be directed to the Minister of the church

   

• Marriage - registering a building of worship 

  Under the provision of the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855, a congregation may apply for a certified building of worship by applying to the Superintendent Registrar in the district where the venue is situated. This excludes churches or chapels of the Church of England, unless it shares a church building with another religious denomination.

  The person who acts as 'minister', 'proprietor' or 'Trustee' at the place of worship has to complete in duplicate 2 copies of form 76 (Form for certifying a place of meeting for religious worship under the places of worship registration act 1855).

  Completed Form 76 should sent to the registration office with a sketch of the floor plan identifying which rooms will be used for worship, an average weekly timetable of how the building will be used, and a cheque or postal order made payable to Barking and Dagenham covering the legal fee of £28.

  Place of marriage