Is it possible to legally get married outside of England and
Wales?
Yes, it is - you could consider a Caribbean beach wedding or a
'drive thru' marriage in Las Vegas, not forgetting the famous
Gretna Green in Scotland.
Will our marriage abroad be recognised here?
Generally speaking yes, providing that it complied with the law
of the Country where it took place and that the Bride and Groom
were both lawfully free to marry under that country's laws.
If you are concerned about the validity of a marriage held
outside England or Wales you should seek legal advice. In such
circumstances it may be possible to petition the Courts for a
declaration of status under Section 55 of the Family Law Act
1986.
If the marriage certificate you are given is not in English it
may be advisable to organise a literal translation for official
purposes.
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How do I arrange to marry outside of England and Wales?
This will depend on the country in which you wish to marry.
There are many tour operators and travel Companies which specialise
in arranging marriages overseas. We suggest that you ask at your
local Travel Agent.
They should advise you on the documents you would need to
provide, if there was a minimum length of stay in the country
before you could marry and if you need to obtain a 'certificate of
no impediment' before you go.
You may find it helpful to contact the relevant
country's embassy for advice. There is also general advice
available on the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office site.
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What is a Certificate of No Impediment?
This is a document, required in some countries, which states
that there is no known impediment to your proposed marriage. These
certificates vary in the length of time they are valid for
(sometimes just for a few months), so it is important to check the
requirements which apply to your circumstances. Please also be
aware that a Certificate of No Impediment may be insufficient on
its own to allow a marriage to take place in a foreign country.
This certificate is prepared by the Superintendent Registrar at
the
Register Office in the area in which you live.
The cost of this certificate is £30 per person - you will need to
take various identification documents with you to this appointment,
which will be explained to you by the receptionist.
Subject to there being no complications, the actual Certificate
of No Impediment will be issued between 17 and 23 days after your
appointment.
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Can we register our marriage abroad here?
A marriage which took place abroad under foreign local law
cannot be registered here unless one of the couple is a serving
member of, or is attached to, the British Armed Forces at the time
of the marriage. This should be discussed with the Forces prior to
the marriage taking place.
However, a record of the marriage may be lodged with the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office via
the
General Register Office, (telephone 0151 471 4801) by
depositing an original marriage certificate: this only applies to
certain countries and where it is possible a fee will be required.
This means that in future a marriage certificate could be issued by
the General Register Office here, should the need arise.
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How do I get an apostille?
Certain countries may require an official document, such as a
birth certificate to be further authenticated. Full details of this
service are available from the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
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How can I arrange to get married in Scotland?
The General Register
Office for Scotland web site contains full information.
How can I arrange to get married in Northern Ireland?
The General Register Office
for Northern Ireland web site contains full information.
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