• Preliminaries to marriage vary according to the method of solemnization. This guide provides general guidance but if you need further information please contact a Registrar of Marriages in your district or the General Register Office in Belfast.
  • Notice throughout this guide means notice of intended marriage.
  • Fees payable are set out in the fees section.

Section G
General Information

Age of Parties

1. The minimum age of marriage in Northern Ireland for both sexes is sixteen years. The dates of birth and ages of parties must be stated.

   Minors

2. Written consent on a presrcibed form (normally completed by both parents), or if appropriate an order of a court dispensing with consent, is needed for the marriage of anyone under eighteen years of age, irrespective of where the minor lives or what type of marriage ceremony is to be held. Consent forms may be obtained from the Registrar or clergyman.

   Objections

3. An objection may be lodged with
   • a Church of Ireland or Presbyterian licensing minister against the issue of his licence
   • a Registrar against the issue of his licence or certificate.
   Further guidance should be sought from the licensing minister or Registrar concerned.

   Production of Documents

4. • If the birth certificates of the people getting married are readily available it is helpful to the Registrar if they can be produced when the notice of marriage is given
   • in the case of a marriage involving a person from abroad an official travel identity document for that person should be produced
   • people who have been previously married should produce documentation or evidence of the death of the former spouse or the dissolution or annulment of the marriage
   • photocopies of documents are not acceptable unless certified to be true copy of the issuing authority.

   Witnesses

5. The parties must arrange for two witnesses to be present at the marriage and to sign the marriage register.

   Penalty for making false statement

6. A person who makes a false statement for the purpose of bringing about or preventing a marriage is guilty of perjury and may be liable to prosecution.

   Marriage in Northern Ireland where one party lives in England or Wales

7. In the case of a marriage by licence issued by a Church of Ireland or Presbyterian licensing minister, where one party resides in Northern Ireland and fulfils the statutory conditions, that party can take all the steps necessary to obtain the licence and the residence of the other party is immaterial.
8. For a marriage in the Church of Ireland, when both parties are Protestant Episcopalians and one of them lives in England or Wales,
   • banns may be published in respect of the latter party in the parish or place of residence in England or Wales
   • in such cases banns should also be published in the parish or district of residence of the party living in Northern Ireland.
9. In the case of an intended marriage in Northern Ireland for which authority from a Registrar is needed, and where one of the parties lives in England or Wales.
   • the party living there should give notice to the Superintendent Registrar of the district where he or she resides and seven days later obtain from him a certificate
   • a further seven days must elapse before the certificate becomes valid for the purpose of marriage in Northern Ireland
   • the certificate must be given to the Registrar in Northern Ireland who may issue his authority for the marriage provided that the party living in his district has also taken the necessary steps there
   • if notice is given for the marriage by Registrar's certificate the authority cannot be issued until twenty-one days from the date that notice was given.

   Marriage in Northern Ireland where one party lives in Scotland

10. A party living in Scotland who is a member of the Church of Scotland
    • may obtain a certificate signed by the minister of the congregation of which he or she is a member, stating that banns of the intended marriage have been proclaimed on three Sundays
    • seven days must elapse before the certificate becomes valid for the purpose of marriage in Northern Ireland
    • the certificate should be given to the Registrar in Northern Ireland who may issue his authority for the marriage provided that the party living in his district has taken the required steps there
    • the certificate regarding banns is not required if the marriage is to take place by licence issued by a licensing minister or by special licence.
11. In any other case the person living in Scotland would have to establish the appropriate residence in Northern Ireland before notice of marriage may be given.

    Marriage in England or Wales

12. In the case of an intended marriage in England or Wales where one party is living in Northern Ireland
    • a Registrar in Northern Ireland may grant a certificate but not a licence, as his authority for a marriage to be solemnized
    • the party living in England or Wales must take the necessary steps there.
13. Where the marriage is intended to take place in a church of the Church of England or the Church of Wales, it is within the power of the minister to refuse to act upon such a certificate, and his prior consent should be obtained.
14. Further information about mariage in England or Wales may be obtained from the Registrar General.
    General Register Office
    Smedley Hydro
    Trafalgar Road Birkdale
    Southport PR8 2HH.
    

    Marriage in Scotland

15. In the case of an intended marriage in Scotland where one party is living here notice is not required to be given to the Registrar in Northern Ireland.
16. It is not necessary for either of the parties to have resided in Scotland before notice is given to the Registrar there.
17. Notice may be given either in person or by post and it is recommended that about six weeks before the date of the marriage, enquiries should be made with the Scottish Registrar in whose district the mariage is to take place.
18. Further information about marriage in Scotland may be obtained from the Registrar General.
    General Register Office,
    New Register House,
    Edinburgh EH1 3YT.