Wedding - legal paperwork etc costs

pledgeX

I am getting married in March next year in a catholic church and was under the impression that I needed a marriage licence. I have however, read on the .gov website that I need to register my intent to marry at our local register office and myself and my fiance need to pay £35 for this at least 15 days before we marry. (Reading of the banns) and no more. Does this mean we do not need a licence to marry? Is the 'reading of the banns' the only official, legal documentation that needs to take place before we marry or do we need a licence too?

We have also been told by our parish priest that we need to pay the registrar £50 to register our marriage and get the certificate. Do we need to pay £35 each for the banns, £300 for a marriage licence AND £50 for the registering of our marriage?

Thanks for any advice.

LEJC

i think you may have slightly intermingled the requirements for a church and a regisrty office wedding...

In my experience(and I admit it wasnt a catholic marriage I had but CofE ),the vicar and the church sorted all the formalities out...this included the reading of banns etc...for us this was done during the 3 weeks leading to the wedding

If you wish to marry in a resistry office then you must declare your intention to marry at least 15 days before do so that they can display your details,similar to banns.

If you have decided to marry within a catholic church then the vicar or his admistrator will sort out all your paperwork etc,and you shouldnt have that much input into the form filling once you have given your details...

Although if you are still in doubt why not give the church a ring and I'm sure they can clarfy everything for you,its the first time you've done this but its just routine to them and they are usually very good at answering questions.

Pinzy

For our civil wedding (registrar came out to venue), it cost say £350 (can't remember exactly), we had to pay say £35 up front each when we gave them notice, but that was taken off of the £350, so we paid the remainder in the meeting the week before the wedding. (Just 2 meetings required with registrar pre-wedding, 1 to give notice and have interviews, 2nd is to go through details of the day thoroughly).

rosie-lee

The Church of England looks after its own legalities & paperwork and takes the form of 'banns' being read to the congregation. Haven't a clue about the administrative procedures or costs involved.

In England this is the only religion to do this.

All other religious demoninations in England can have their own Registers in which to make a record of the marriage, and a stock of certificates so that, as custodians of that Register, provide you with a certified copy of that entry in the Register (a Marriage/CP certificate).

If they do not hold their own Registers & Certificates you will need to book a Registrar to attend. There is a statutory fee payable of £84 for this service. Individual County Councils may also charge a booking fee to hold the time & date.

Most Councils will take bookings well over a year in advance & it is wise to book as soon as you can or there may be no availability for your preferred time/date.

If your Marriage/CP is taking place in a Church other Religious Building or anywhere else with a license like a hall or hotel, house etc. and you want it to be recognised & entered into a Register in England or Wales, you need a Civil Marriage. Therefore Notice of your Marriage/CP must be given to your LOCAL registrar. Regardless of WHERE your ceremony is you do this with registrars in the council to whom you pay council Tax.

This can be done 12 months in advance of the date. Don't whatever you do leave it until 15 days beforehand !!!! It may take you a few weeks to even get an appointment for the 30mins you will each require.

Documentation will be required to prove your name, DOB, Nationality & residency in that area.

Your details will be displayed on a public display board for 15 days. Your Marriage Authority/Licence will be issued on the 16th or next Working day. Not weekends & not Bank Holidays. It is valid for 12 months & costs £35.

If these Marriage Authorities are not with the person Registering your Marriage/CP it will not be legally recognised. in fact no Registrar would go ahead.

Hope that helps & is a little clearer
Have a great day.