Civil Marriage

You should make advance arrangements with the Registrar. This is particularly important where there is a high demand for certain dates throughout the year. The choice of venues for civil marriage ceremonies has been extended. Councils now have the power to approve places where civil marriages can be conducted by registrars. This approval can be for a one off occasion or for up to three years. The District Registrar will have an up to date list of places in their area and a complete list for Dumfries and Galloway. For further information please contact Annan Registration Office: Tel 01461 204914.

Religious Marriage

Whether it be in a church, hotel or blacksmiths shop, the Bride and Groom should contact the minister or clergyman who is to conduct the ceremony and also the venue where it is to take place, well in advance of the proposed date of marriage.

Marriage Notice Form (M10)
After submitting your M10 forms your documents will be returned to you via 2nd Class standard post.  If you require your documents returned by recorded/special delivery please supply a pre-paid envelope with the relevant postage.

Notes for Completion of Marriage Notice Form (M10)

Information Leaflet RM1 (for Marriage in Scotland)

Enhanced Fees List Booking Form

Foreign Divorce Questionnaire 1 (if previously married)

Foreign Divorce Questionnaire 2 (if previously in a registered civil partnership)

In all cases, the Bride and Groom must each complete a Marriage Notice Form (M10), within 3 months of the date of the proposed marriage, and submit the completed forms to the Registrar for the district in which they intend to be married, together with the appropriate fees and documents. The Marriage Notice Forms must be received by the Registrar no later than 15 days before the proposed date of marriage.

If your marriage is more than 3 months ahead, you may wish to secure the date and time of your marriage ceremony at Gretna Registration Office in order to proceed with other arrangements i.e. wedding reception, honeymoon etc. If you would like to make an advance booking for a civil marriage ceremony up to one year ahead please complete the Enhanced Fees List Booking Form (please compare the form with our fees page to ensure its accuracy) and return with the appropriate fees. Do not send your Marriage Notices at this time.

You must arrange for two persons, aged 16 years of age or over, to be present at your marriage to act as witnesses.

Who Can Get Married

Any two persons, regardless of where they live can be married provided that:-

1. Both persons must be at least 16 years of age on the day of their marriage;
2. They are not related within any of the forbidden degrees of relationship - for further information please contact the Registration Office ;
3. They are free to marry;
4. They are not of the same sex;
5. They are capable of understanding the nature of the marriage ceremony and of consenting to marriage; and
6. The marriage would be recognised as valid in any foreign country to which either party belongs.

Reporting of Suspicious Marriages

Please note that under the terms of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (the 1999 Act), Registrars have a duty to report to the Home Office any marriage that they have reasonable grounds for suspecting will be a sham marriage.

Note: The 1999 Act defines a "Sham marriage" as "... a marriage ... entered into ... for the purpose of avoiding the effect of one or more provisions of United Kingdom immigration law or the immigration rules."

Non-EEA nationals

From 1 February 2005 all non-EEA nationals who wish to marry in the United Kingdom must adhere to the relevant immigration requirements.  Please visit www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk or telephone the Gretna Registration Office for advice.