The Registration of Marriages Regulations 2015

PART 3 E+W Registration of Marriage

Form of registration of particulars and place of registration E+W

12.—(1) The form of registration of the particulars relating to a marriage pursuant to section 55(1) of the Act is Part 1 of form 15 in relation to a marriage solemnized in England, or form 15(w) in relation to a marriage solemnized in Wales, together with the form of attestation in Part 2 of that form which is appropriate to the place and manner of solemnization.

(2) Where a registrar is required to register the marriage, the registrar must register it immediately after the solemnization of the marriage and in accordance with the provisions of this Part, within the premises where it was solemnized.

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 12 in force at 2.3.2015, see reg. 1

Manner of registration E+W

13.—(1) Where a registrar is required to register the marriage the registrar must, subject to paragraph (5), enter the particulars required in each column of Part 1 of form 15 (or form 15(w) as the case may be).

(2) In column 4 the registrar must enter the condition of the parties to the marriage in the following manner—

(a) if a party has not previously been married or formed a civil partnership, enter the word “Single”;

(b) if a party’s previous marriage was terminated by death, enter the word “Widower” or “Widow”, as the case may be;

(c) if a party’s previous civil partnership was terminated by death, enter the words “Surviving civil partner”;

(d) if a party’s previous marriage was annulled on the ground that the marriage was voidable, enter the words “Previous marriage annulled”;

(e) if a party’s civil partnership was annulled on the grounds that the civil partnership was voidable, enter the words “Previous civil partnership annulled”;

(f) if a party’s previous marriage was terminated by divorce, enter the words “Previous marriage dissolved”;

(g) if a party’s previous civil partnership was terminated by dissolution, enter the words “Previous civil partnership dissolved”;

(h) unless sub-paragraph (i) applies, if the marriage is between two parties who have previously been through a form of marriage with each other (not being a marriage which is known to have been null and void) and neither of them has since married a third party, then notwithstanding sub-paragraphs (d) and (f)—

(i) if the previous marriage was terminated by divorce, enter the words “Previously married at … on … Marriage dissolved on …”, inserting particulars of the place and date of the previous marriage and the date of its dissolution, or

(ii) if the previous marriage was annulled, enter the words “Previously married at …    on … Marriage annulled on …”, inserting particulars of the place and date of the previous marriage and the date of its annulment, or

(iii) if the ceremony was performed for the avoidance of doubt as to the validity of a previous ceremony, enter the words “Previously went through a form of marriage at … on …”, inserting the particulars of the place and date of the previous ceremony;

(i) where sub-paragraph (h) applies, and the parties are now legally of the same sex but their previous marriage was a marriage between a man and a woman, enter the form of words referred to in sub-paragraph (d) or (f) (as applicable), but if the parties so request, enter the form of words referred to in sub-paragraph (h)(i), (ii) or (iii) (as applicable);

(j) if the marriage is between two parties of the same sex who have previously been through a form of civil partnership with each other (not being a civil partnership which is known to be void) and neither of them has since formed a civil partnership with, or married, a third party, then notwithstanding sub-paragraphs (e) and (g)—

(i) if the previous civil partnership has been terminated by final order of dissolution, enter the words, “Previously formed a civil partnership at … on … Civil partnership dissolved on …”, inserting particulars of the place and date of the previous civil partnership and the date of dissolution, or

(ii) if the previous civil partnership was annulled, enter the words, “Previously formed a civil partnership at … on … Civil partnership annulled on …”, inserting the particulars of the place and date of the previous civil partnership and the date of its annulment;

(k) if the marriage is between a man and a woman who have previously been through a form of civil partnership with each other (not being a civil partnership which is known to be void) and neither of them has since formed a civil partnership with, or married, a third party, enter the form of words referred to in sub-paragraph (e) or (g) (as applicable), but if the parties so request, enter the form of words referred to in sub-paragraph (j)(i) or (ii) (as applicable);

and no further entry is to be made in column 4.

(3) In column 7 if the father of either party to the marriage is deceased, the registrar must enter the word “deceased” after the surname.

(4) In column 7, if either party to the marriage wishes to record a step-father’s name instead of the father’s name, the registrar must enter the word “step-father” after the surname, provided he is or has been married to the mother.

(5) Where it appears to the registrar that he or she cannot enter the particulars required in any column in Part 1 of form 15, the registrar must draw a line in ink through that column.

Commencement Information

I2 Reg. 13 in force at 2.3.2015, see reg. 1

Form of attestation E+W

14.  In the form of attestation set out in Part 2 of form 15 the registrar must enter in the appropriate places—

(a) if the marriage has been solemnized in a registered building according to the rites and ceremonies of any religious body or denomination, the title of that body or denomination, the description of the registered building, and the word “certificate”;

(b) if the marriage has been solemnized in a superintendent registrar’s office, the words “register office” and “certificate”;

(c) if the marriage has been solemnized on approved premises in accordance with section 26(1)(bb) of the Act(1), the description of the approved premises and the word “certificate”;

(d) if the marriage has been solemnized on the authority of a Registrar General’s licence, the address of the place in which the marriage has been solemnized, the title of the religious body or denomination, if any, according to the rites and ceremonies of which the marriage has been solemnized, and the words “Registrar General’s licence”;

(e) if the marriage has been solemnized at a person’s residence in pursuance of section 26(1)(dd) or section 26B(6) of the Act(2), the address of the place in which the marriage has been solemnized, the title of the religious body or denomination, if any, according to the rites and ceremonies of which the marriage has been solemnized, and the word “certificate”.

Commencement Information

I3 Reg. 14 in force at 2.3.2015, see reg. 1

Signing the register E+W

15.  After entering the required particulars and before the register is signed in accordance with section 55(2) of the Act, the registrar must request the parties to the marriage to verify those particulars and if it appears that any error has been made, the registrar must in the presence of the parties make the necessary correction in accordance with regulation 18(1).

Commencement Information

I4 Reg. 15 in force at 2.3.2015, see reg. 1

(1)

Section 26 was substituted by section 3 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30).

(2)

Section 26B was inserted by section 5 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.