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What paperwork do I need to get married in Scotland?

Author

David Ramirez

Updated on February 25, 2026

What paperwork do I need to get married in Scotland?

Whether a marriage is to be by a civil or a religious/belief ceremony, the following legal requirements must be met:
  • both you and your partner must complete a marriage notice.
  • the marriage must be conducted by either a registrar or an approved celebrant in the presence of two witnesses aged 16 or over.

In respect to this, how much notice do you have to give to get married in Scotland?

Please note that the minimum period of marriage notice in Scotland is 29 days before the date of the marriage. When you are planning your marriage, you are required to give notice to the Registrar of your intention to be married. Everyone must complete a (M10) Marriage Notice Form and a Witness Details form.

Beside above, where can you legally get married in Scotland? There are 2 different types of marriage ceremony you can have in Scotland:

  • civil ceremony – can take place in a registration office or anywhere agreed with the registrar, except religious premises.
  • religious or belief ceremony – can take place anywhere by someone approved to conduct a ceremony.

Hereof, what documents do I need to get married in UK?

  • Proof of name (e.g. valid passport)
  • Proof of age (e.g. birth certificate)
  • Proof of nationality (e.g. valid passport, national identity card)
  • Proof of address (e.g. valid driving licence, recent utility bill, etc.)
  • A decree absolute or final order (if applicable)

How much is a registry office wedding in Scotland?

To be married in Scotland the statutory fee to submit marriage notice forms is £30.00 each and £10.00 for the marriage extract making a total of £70.00. If you are having a religious or belief marriage please contact your celebrant for the fees involved in conducting your ceremony.

Do you have to give notice to marry in Scotland?

Please note that the minimum period of marriage notice in Scotland is 29 days before the date of the marriage. When you are planning your marriage, you are required to give notice to the Registrar of your intention to be married. Everyone must complete a (M10) Marriage Notice Form and a Witness Details form.

How quickly can you marry in Scotland?

The very quickest turnaround between applying to marry and getting hitched is 29 days. To legally marry in Scotland, you each must submit completed M10 marriage notice forms to the registrar of the district in which the marriage is due to take place. Failure to give notice means your wedding may have to be postponed.

How much does it cost to get married in Scotland?

To be married in Scotland the statutory fee to submit marriage notice forms is £30.00 each and £10.00 for the marriage extract making a total of £70.00. If you are having a religious or belief marriage please contact your celebrant for the fees involved in conducting your ceremony.

Can you get married quickly in Scotland?

Here we will provide a simple guide to getting married in Scotland. In short - people from all over the world can easily be married in Scotland virtually anywhere they wish. In Scotland it is possible to have a legally recognisable Civil, Religious, Humanist or Same-Sex marriage.

How do you get married in a registry office in Scotland?

You both need to complete and return a Marriage Notice form (tells the local registrar you want to marry). You'll be charged a fee to register your marriage – check with your registrar office how much this will be.

How much does it cost to get married Scotland?

How much does it cost? To be married in Scotland the statutory fee to submit marriage notice forms is £30.00 each and £10.00 for the marriage extract making a total of £70.00. If you are having a religious or belief marriage please contact your celebrant for the fees involved in conducting your ceremony.

What is it called when you get married without telling anyone?

elope. Usually, you elope to get married without anyone knowing in advance. The word elope probably originated with the Middle Dutch word lopen, meaning "run away." Couples who elope typically don't seek anyone's permission before running off to get married, not even their parents.

Can cousins marry in Scotland?

Here in Britain it's actually perfectly legal for first cousins to marry. Prince Philip and The Queen are even third cousins. Charles Darwin was also married to his first cousin Emma Wedgwood.

How much does it cost to get married in a registry office in the UK?

To be legally married, costs start at around £120. That covers fees for the notice of marriage (£35 for each partner) and a brief registry office service on a weekday.

How quickly can you marry in the UK?

In England and Wales, 28 days notice must be given to the Register Office before the marriage can take place. You have to get married within 12 months of giving notice. Both partners must be resident for seven days in England or Wales before notice is given. A notice must state where the marriage is to take place.

How do I get married in a registry office UK?

Once you're ready to register for your marriage, you'll need to take the following to the local register office of the district that you intend to get married in: Proof of name (e.g. valid passport) Proof of age (e.g. birth certificate) Proof of nationality (e.g. valid passport, national identity card)

How much does it cost to get married UK?

To be legally married, costs start at around £120. That covers fees for the notice of marriage (£35 for each partner) and a brief registry office service on a weekday.

How much does it cost to get married in a church UK?

It costs around £500 to get married in a church in England and Wales, so make sure you factor this into your wedding budget. This cost covers the expense of reading of the banns, the certificate, the vicar and the use of the church itself.

What do you bring to notice of marriage?

You must bring one of the following documents in your name:
  1. Utility bill (dated within 3 months)
  2. Bank statement (dated within 1 month).
  3. Most recent council tax bill (dated within 1 year)
  4. Mortgage statement (dated within 1 year)
  5. Valid UK driving licence showing your current name and address.

What's a notice of marriage?

Notice for all marriages must be given in the 12-month period before the date of the marriage. You must send your notice early enough to allow the registrar to make sure both parties are free to marry one another. Normally, notices should be with the registrar about eight weeks before the marriage.

Are US marriages Recognised in the UK?

In order for foreign marriages to be recognised as legal in the UK, the following conditions must be met: The marriage must be recognised as a legal marriage in the country in which it took place and the parties to the marriage must have complied with the procedures required in the country of marriage.

Do I need a visa to get married in the UK?

Overview. You must apply for a Marriage Visitor visa if: you want to get married or register a civil partnership in the UK. you're not planning to stay or settle in the UK after your marriage or civil partnership.

Can I get married in Scotland without a visa?

Check if you need a marriage visa - all nationals from a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States, who want to visit Scotland to get married or to register a civil partnership, will need an entry clearance through a Marriage Visa.

How do you elope in Scotland?

Elope in Scotland - everything you need to know to plan your Scottish elopement
  1. STEP ONE: Decide on a location.
  2. STEP 2: Pin-down a date.
  3. STEP 3: Find a celebrant.
  4. STEP 4: Get stuck into the paperwork!
  5. STEP 5: Submit your marriage paperwork.
  6. STEP 6: Decide who is going act as your witnesses.

How quickly can you get married in a registry office?

You have 12 months from the date you give notice to marry and you can give notice no less than 28 days before the date of your proposed marriage.

How do you go about getting married in a registry office?

You must decide where to have your marriage or civil partnership ceremony before giving notice. You must then sign a legal statement at your local register office to say you intend to get married or form a civil partnership. This is known as 'giving notice'. You must give notice at least 29 days before your ceremony.

How do I book a registrar?

How to do it
  1. Select a venue. ?Contact your chosen approved venue for their booking process.
  2. Book a registrar. Coronavirus update (20 March 2020)
  3. Confirm your registrar.
  4. Review your contract details.
  5. Give your notices of marriage or civil partnership.
  6. Plan your wedding or civil partnership ceremony.
  7. Enjoy your day!

Can you get married without vows?

Yes you can, it's commonly known as a justice of the peace wedding. It requires the bride and groom and a couple of witnesses. You don't have to recite vows if you don't want to.

Can you get married if you're already married?

In the United States, same sex marriage is legal. These marriages are not immune from bigamy. If a same-sex couple gets married but one spouse is still married to another person, the second marriage is invalid. Bigamy laws apply to all forms of marriage.

Can I book a wedding without my partner knowing?

Unfortunately no, it can't be done that way. You will both need to give notice before the marriage and that needs to take place a minimum of two weeks before, depending on your area.

How much is a wedding at a registry office?

To be legally married, costs start at around £120. That covers fees for the notice of marriage (£35 for each partner) and a brief registry office service on a weekday.

How much is it for a registrar to marry you?

To be legally married you need to employ a registrar. Marriage at a registry office involves paying for a superintendent registrar's certificate, at a cost of £94.

Can you get married without witnesses UK?

What are the legal requirements to get married in the UK? You must be at least 16 years old to get married or form a civil partnership in the UK. If you're under 18 years old in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland you'll need parental permission. On the day of the marriage, two witnesses must be present.

Who can you not marry UK?

You cannot get married in the UK or the British Crown dependencies of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man if either of you are under the age of 16. You must both also be free to marry, that is, not already married and you must also be of different sex at birth.

Can you get married at 16 Scotland?

Marriage is legal at 16 in Scotland without parental consent. It's still 18 in England and Wales. Although 15 days' notice is currently required to marry in Scotland, there is no residency requirement, meaning English couples can still get married there at relatively short notice.

Where can you get married quickly?

Where Can We Get Married in a Hurry?
  • New York. With a waiting period of just 24 hours and no residency requirement, New York is an ideal spot for a quick wedding.
  • Las Vegas.
  • Hawaii.
  • USA: Other States.
  • Denmark.
  • Gibraltar.
  • New Zealand.

Can you marry your first cousin?

As of February 2014, 24 U.S. states prohibit marriages between first cousins, 19 U.S. states allow marriages between first cousins, and 7 U.S. states allow only some marriages between first cousins. Six states prohibit first-cousin-once-removed marriages.

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What paperwork do I need to get married in Scotland?