What is Giving Notice?
Before you can get married or form a civil partnership you must each sign a legal statement at your local register office stating your intent to do so. This is called giving notice and must be completed at least 29 days before your ceremony.
You are required to have lived in the district for at least 7 full consecutive days and nights immediately before giving notice. Cornwall is one registration district so you may give notice at any of our Registration Offices.
There are two types of notice of marriage or civil partnership appointments available. Further information on the documents you need is available below:
- Notice of Marriage or Civil Partnership for a British, Irish or Relevant National
- Notice of Marriage or Civil Partnership for a Foreign National subject to immigration control
Appointments are face-to-face and available in all of our offices. For details and opening hours of our offices, please visit our Registration Offices page.
To book an appointment please contact us on 0300 1234 181. Phone lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Or you can complete our online form to request an appointment.
Request an appointment to give notice of marriage or civil partnership
If you are unable to attend your appointment, please contact us on 0300 1234 181 or email us at registration@cornwall.gov.uk.
Notice period
The waiting period between giving notice and when a ceremony can take place is currently 28 clear days*. The schedule will be issued on the 29th day after giving notice and is valid for twelve months from the date of your appointment. This schedule will usually be kept by the Registration Office local to where you intend to marry, prior to the ceremony.
*Non relevant nationals
Information for couples where one or both parties are not relevant nationals and subject to immigration control:
- your application to marry will be referred to the Home Office
and - they may extend the notice period to 70 days
Additional fees may apply at the point where the registration officer takes your legal notice.
Getting Married outside of England or Wales
There are different rules if you want to get married or form a civil partnership in:
Further information
More detailed information can be found on the GOV.uk website:
