If you wish to have a civil ceremony, please ensure you make a provisional booking to hold the date/time until you complete your official notice of marriage.
For all couples getting married in the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area - Official Notice of Marriage can be completed once you are within the twelve-month period of your wedding date. It is advised to complete this at least 12-14 weeks before the date of your Ceremony.
The legal minimum Notice period is 28 days; however, this is not advised as you may need to postpone your ceremony if you do not have the correct documentation, etc. Please also remember you must consider time to book an appointment to attend the Office.
The Official Notice of Marriage notification process is:
- Each party to a Marriage must complete and sign a Marriage Notice Form. The Officiant will also need to sign at least one of the Notice Forms
- Contact our registration team by phone on 028 9244 7263 or email us at bdm.registration@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk to book an appointment to give your Official Notice of Marriage. (If emailing, please include date and place of your marriage)
- Our team will then make contact by telephone to book an appointment and confirm all documentation required.
- Please read the explanatory notes on the Marriage Notice Forms to ensure you bring all mandatory documentation required. Failure to show these original documents, may mean we cannot proceed.
- Marriage Notice Fee - £44 to be paid at appointment by debit/credit card or cash.
Documents you must produce:
Legal requirements
- A full version of your birth certificate or full adoption certificate. You can order your birth certificate online or by calling 0300 200 7890.
- Name Change Document/Deed Poll(s) – If you have changed your name since but not by marriage or civil partnership.
Marital Status
- If you are widowed, you must produce your spouse’s death certificate from your last marriage or your last civil partnership.
- If you are divorced, you must produce an official copy of your Decree(s) Absolute or Civil Partnership Dissolution for your last marriage/Civil Partnership. If a woman has been divorced, you will need to provide previous marriage certificate(s).
Nationality
- Everyone must produce a valid passport or national identity card.
- If you do not hold a passport or national identity card, you should contact the Registrar to get advice on acceptable alternative documents.
- If you’re not a UK or Irish citizen, you may be subject to immigration control. If you have applied for pre-settled status or have settled status to live in the UK, you will need to provide a share code. If you don’t have a share code, you may have to complete an Immigration Status Statement.
Translation of documents to English
- Should any of your documents not be in English, we will also need certified translations of these documents. For example, full birth certificates (showing parents details), foreign divorces, etc. Please contact the Registration Office for advice on translations.
Consent to marry
- If you are aged 16 or 17 years, you will need to provide proof of consent. Forms are available from the Registrar.
Please note: Failure to show your original documents will mean we cannot issue your schedule.