Parental consent if you are under 18 (21
in some countries)
An affidavit or Statutory Declaration is a legal document
that can be obtained from a Commissioner of Oaths (a solicitor
authorised to authenticate oaths on statements etc. and
can be found in the Yellow Pages under solicitors, notary
and conveyancing.) It is important to note that the requirements
for a Single Status Statutory Declaration are per person
(not a joint declaration). These must state that you are
both free to marry, that you are single, divorced or widowed
and must be signed and stamped by a solicitor. It should
also contain your full name, address, nationality, religion,
passport number and occupation. This document must be
obtained within 3 months of your intended date of wedding
and must also state your intent to marry in the destination
you have chosen. The cost will vary from area to area
depending on court charges so it is well worth phoning
round.
“I (name, nationality, passport number and occupation)
do solemnly and sincerely declare as follows:
I declare that I have always been known by the name…
I also declare that I understand that I am free to contract
marriage according to the legal requirements for marriage
in (destination), and I make this Solemn Declaration conscientiously
believing the same to be true and by virtue of the provisions
of the Statutory Declaration Act 1835. Declared by (name)
at (address) and (date) signed by (solicitor’s name
and official stamp).
Some countries ask for a Certificate of No Impediment,
which is obtainable from the Register Office in area where
you reside. You will have to Give Notice of your marriage
in the same way as you would for a civil wedding in the
UK and after twenty-one days you will be issued with the
certificate. You will then most likely be required to
send a copy of the certificate to the authorities where
you plan to marry, taking the original with you when you
travel.
As long as your marriage is legally recognised (validly
contracted) in the country that it takes place, it is deemed
to be valid in England and Wales. However, in the light
of the Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall marriage in Bali, which
was found to be unlawful in the UK, the Law Society advises
that anyone getting married abroad should contact the local
British embassy or consulate for up-to-date advice. Do not
rely on travel agents or any third party to ensure that
the ceremony is valid, check it for yourself and be sure
of what you are doing. If you are not completely satisfied
that your marriage will be recognised in this country then
visit a Register Office in Britain to be doubly sure. On
your return home you do not need to register your marriage
with the Register Office. You can use your foreign marriage
certificate to change your name on your documents and with
your bank. as you would if you married in the UK. It is
a good idea to obtain several copies of your marriage certificate,
just in case you lose the original, as it is very difficult
to get further copies at a later date.
Marriages solemnised in a foreign country
cannot be registered in the UK; however, it is possible,
in some instances, for a record of your marriage to be
kept at:
The ONS General Register Office
Overseas Section
Snedley Hydro
Trafalgar Road
Southport
PR8 2HH
Tel: 011 44 151 471 4816 |
This is not done automatically so it is
up to you to contact the office to arrange to send them
any necessary documentation.
You should ensure that you have a valid 10-year passport
and, as many countries require expiry dates on passports
to be a considerable length of time after the return from
holiday, it is recommended that your passport is valid
for six months after your return to the UK.
In most cases, where it is indicated that
visas are required, you are responsible for obtaining
these yourselves. The cost, method of obtaining a visa
and time necessary to process applications vary considerably
between countries and are subject to change. Contact the
relevant Embassy at the earliest opportunity for the most
up-to-date information.
If you are already married, be it recently or 25 years
ago, many companies offer tropical blessings and renewal
of vows services to celebrate your union. The only legal
requirement is that you take along your original Marriage
Certificate for authentication, although some destinations
will require a photocopy of your certificate to be sent
at least 6 weeks before you travel. Most of the services
that are provided for weddings can be requested for your
blessing service.
