Giving Notice

Giving notice at your local register office

Before you can get married, there is a requirement for both the bride and groom to give at least 2 months’ notice in person at their local Register Offices, regardless of where they are holding their marriage ceremony. Your notice will be publicly displayed in the Register Office for 28 days. If you live in Leeds and want to give notice, you will need to Book an appointment.

1. Booking an Appointment

As soon as you have decided on a date for your ceremony (within the next 12 months), book an appointment as soon as possible to give your notice.

Due to the number of bookings, you should book an appointment as soon as possible. You should book the appointment, at latest, within 3 months of your wedding ceremony.

When you book, you will be asked to pay a fee to give notice so please have a credit or debit card ready available when booking the appointment.

1.1 Booking Costs

A notice of marriage appointment costs £35 per person (this is subject to change). If you require a Saturday notice of marriage/civil partnership appointment the fee is £50 per person. Please ensure that you have a debit or credit card.

To book an appointment at the register office, please call: 0113 222 4408
(Weekdays, 9am to 5pm, except Wednesdays when the office is open from 10am)

If you need to cancel or rearrange your appointment, you must give at least 48 hours' notice or you will lose your notice fee.

1.2 Location of Appointment

The entrance to the register office is on Merrion Way. Please wait outside until the time of your appointment.

Leeds Register Office
Merrion House
Merrion Way
Leeds
LS2 8BB

Phone  0113 222 4408
(Weekdays 9am to 5pm, except Wednesdays when the office is open from 10am)

Email : register.headoffice@leeds.gov.uk

2. What to Bring

You will lose your fee if you do not bring all of the correct documents to your appointment (See Full list below).

You and your partner will each need:

  • name and location of the venue where your ceremony will be

  • proof of identity and nationality, such as a valid British passport

  • proof of home address, such as a recent bank statement or utility bill

  • proof of any name changes, such as a deed poll

  • proof that you are divorced or widowed if you have been married or in a civil partnership before, in any country

  • If you or your partner is from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), you will need proof of immigration status and both of you will need to bring passport photos.

Make sure you read the full list of documents needed to give notice.

2.1   Venue details

You will need name and location of the ceremony venue.

Your ceremony will be in a Sikh (temple) Gurdwara.

                Ramgarhia Board, Leeds.
                8/10 Chapeltown Road, Leeds, LS7 3AP
                Telephone: 0113 2620085 (OFFICE)

You will need the name of the Authorised person / Registrar for the building (Ramgarhia Board).

               Mr. Balbir Singh Marwaha

2.2   Passport photos (if not from Europe)

If you or your partner is from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) then you must bring a recent passport style photo for each of you. Even if only one of you is from outside the EEA.

2.3   Name and date of birth

To prove your name and date of birth the Register Office will accept a valid:

  • passport, of any nationality

  • (EEA) national identity card

  • Home Office travel document

  • biometric residence permit

  • UK photo card driving licence, full or provisional

  • full British birth certificate

You should also bring a copy of a deed poll if you have ever changed your name.

2.4   Nationality

To prove your nationality Register Office will accept a valid:

  • passport, of any nationality

  • EEA national identity card

  • Home Office travel document

  • biometric residence permit

  • naturalisation certificate, if you have become British

  • full British birth certificate

​2.5   Address

To prove your address Register Office will accept your:

  • utility bill, no older than 3 months (gas, electricity, water, broadband, cable, landline)

  • bank or building society statement, no older than one month

  • valid UK driving licence, full or provisional, paper or card

  • most recent council tax bill

  • most recent mortgage statement

3. New to the UK​

3.1   Immigration status

To prove your immigration status Register Office will accept a valid:

  • British passport

  • EEA passport or national identity card

  • proof of indefinite leave to remain or enter (settled status)

  • proof of permanent residence

  • proof of right of abode

  • proof of military or diplomatic exemption

  • marriage or civil partnership visa

  • naturalisation certificate, if you have become British

  • full British birth certificate

Unable to show proof of immigration status

4. Marital status

If you have ever been married or in a civil partnership, in any country, you must bring proof that you are now divorced or widowed.

4.1   Divorced in the UK

To prove you are divorced, you must bring an original court stamped copy of your decree absolute.

4.2   Divorced in another country

To prove you are divorced, you must provide:

  • the original document issued by the country where the divorce took place

  • an English translation of this document if it's in another language Extra fees and waiting times

4.3   Spouse or civil partner has died

You will need to bring the death certificate for your former civil partner or spouse, with an English translation if the certificate is in a different language.

If you are not named as spouse or civil partner on the death certificate, you will also need to show Register Office your marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate, with an English translation if it's in a different language.

5. Religious ceremonies

5.1   Marriages in Sikh religion

You need to bring the Schedule that you receive from the Leeds Register Office to the Gurdwara office at least 28 days before the ceremony.

Note: Religious ceremony can only be performed after the civil marriage has been completed.

Section 46 of the Marriage Act 1949 allows a couple to have a religious ceremony i.e. a blessing, after their civil marriage. The couple must produce a certificate of their civil marriage before the ceremony may take place.   

5.2   Witnesses

Two witnesses must be present at the marriage. They must be able to understand what is taking place and testify if necessary, as to what they have seen and heard.

6. Signing the Schedule

You, your partner and your 2 witnesses must sign the marriage schedule.

6.1   Cost of registering a marriage.

There is a fee of £40 for the Groom to pay for signing the Schedule.

Examples of Schedule