Notice of Civil Partnership Booking Questions
1.1 Clause 1 (Legal Preliminaries) applies to legal marriage and civil partnership ceremonies only. This Clause 1 (Legal Preliminaries) does not apply to non-legal ceremonies such as Renewal of Vows and Naming ceremonies and Commitment ceremonies.
1.2 There must be no legal impediment in marriage or civil partnership legislation to prevent Notice of Marriage or Civil Partnership (“Legal Notice”) being given or the event taking place.
1.3 Please note any person who knowingly and wilfully gives false information or makes a false declaration is liable to prosecution for perjury.
1.4 If either of you is a foreign national who is subject to immigration control, you must give notice together in the district where at least one of you resides and your marriage/civil partnership schedule being issued is subject to Home Office permission being granted where applicable.
1.5 The relevant Legal Notice fee (“Legal Notice Fee”) must be paid in full at the time of booking the Legal Notice appointment.
1.6 Once a Legal Notice has been signed, it is only valid for the exact location stated. If you change your venue you will need to pay for and attend a new Legal Notice appointment.
1.7 You are required to fulfil your legal obligations to obtain permission to marry / form a civil partnership. You must give Legal Notice at your local register office. If you are unsure of the process or which office to contact for an appointment, please either check our website at Births, deaths, marriages and citizenship | Hertfordshire County Council or contact us at registrars.admin@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
1.8 Legal Notice cannot be given more than one year in advance of your ceremony but must be completed at least 29 days before the date of your ceremony; these are the Statutory Time Limits. However, we recommend that you give Legal Notice at least 3 months before the date of your ceremony.
1.9 If you do not complete Legal Notice in accordance with Clause 1.8, the legal ceremony cannot go ahead and will be cancelled.
1.10 Hertfordshire County Council is not liable for any consequences of non-compliance with the Statutory Time Limits referred to in Clause 1.8.
1.11 If you are subject to immigration control, Home Office permission may be required. The Home Office may decide to extend the waiting period from 29 to 71 days and therefore amend the Statutory Time Limits. We advise that you do not make firm arrangements for your ceremony until Home Office approval is received.
1.12 Hertfordshire County Council is not liable for any consequences of The Home Office’s decisions to extend the waiting period or amend the Statutory Time Limits, as explained in Clause 1.11.
1.13 Your Legal Notice is valid for 12 months from the date of your completed appointment for the Licensed Venue you have named.
1.14 In the event that you need to reschedule your ceremony beyond the 12- month Legal Notice period or change your Licensed Venue, you will need to give your Legal Notice again.
1.15 If you do not live in England or Wales or are subject to immigration control, the Statutory Time Limits, general timescales and process may lengthen, please contact us at registrars.admin@hertfordshire.gov.uk as soon as possible for advice.
1.16 The Legal Notice is put on public display in your local register office for 28 full days following your appointment. On the 29th day, your marriage/civil partnership schedule will be issued.
1.17 Legal preliminaries must be completed within the Statutory Time Limits, as set out in Clauses 1.8 and 1.11. It is your responsibility to ensure this is done (please note we do not issue marriage/civil partnership schedules on a Saturday, Sunday, or a Bank Holiday).
1.18 There are certain documents that are required at the Legal Notice appointment. Details of the required documentation is available here: Marriages and civil partnerships in England and Wales: Documents you'll need to give notice - GOV.UK. We will be unable to take your Legal Notice(s) if you do not provide the specified documents.
1.19 If your Legal Notice is referred to the Registrar General, due to any foreign divorce/dissolution papers, the issuing of your marriage/civil partnership schedule may be delayed until it is accepted by the Registrar General (Clearance).
1.20 Foreign divorce clearance can take longer than the standard 29 or 71 days waiting period. In these cases, your ceremony date may have to be changed if clearance is not provided by the Registrar General by your ceremony date.
1.21 Responsibility for the arrangement of your Legal Notice appointment lies entirely with you. If you do not give Legal Notice, then we cannot conduct your ceremony.
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