The Registration of Marriages Regulations 2015

Manner of registration

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.