This provides for a marriage or Civil Partnership to take place in circumstances where one of the parties is terminally ill (or seriously ill and not expected to recover) and cannot be moved to a place where the marriage or Civil Partnership would normally be solemnized.
- The marriage may be by civil or religious ceremony, excepting Church of England or Church in Wales, where you must apply to the Archbishop of Canterbury for a special licence.
No residential qualification is necessary, but notice of marriage or Civil Partnership must be given by one of the parties to the Superintendent Registrar of the district where the marriage or Civil Partnership is to take place.
Medical evidence of the sick person's condition and their capacity to understand the meaning of the marriage ceremony/ Civil Partnership will be required. Both parties must be legally free to marry/ contract a Civil Partnership and normal evidence of name, age and marital status will be required.
There is no waiting period for the grant of the Registrar General's Licence and, once granted, the marriage or Civil Partnership may be solemnized at the place stated, at any hour of the day or night but within one month of the granting of the licence.
If the marriage is to be by civil ceremony, the Superintendent Registrar and Registrar must attend to perform and register the marriage.
If it is to be by religious ceremony, other than Church of England or Church in Wales, a Registrar must attend to register the marriage.
The only fees payable in respect of the issue of Registrar General's Licence is £15.00, which is refundable if the licence is not granted.
You must contact the Superintendent Registrar of the district if you wish to apply for a licence.
Please call us on 01225 477234 between 9am and 4pm Monday - Friday (after 10am on Wednesdays).
If you need to talk to someone urgently (outside of normal office hours) about arranging a marriage or Civil Partnership by "Registrar General's Licence" please call us on 01225 477337.