Registrar General's Licence

This enables a person with short life expectancy to marry or form a civil partnership quickly.

Before notice can be given a medical certificate must be obtained from a registered medical practitioner to confirm that:

the doctor is in medical attendance on the person concerned
the person is seriously ill and not expected to recover
the person cannot be moved to a place registered for marriages and civil partnerships
he or she understands the nature and purpose of the ceremony

The notice is given to the Superintendent Registrar in the district in which the marriage or civil partnership is to take place. No residential qualification is required for either party. The authority then issued is valid for one month only. The total fee will be £15 plus certificates at £11 each.

If you believe this situation may apply to your circumstances it is important that you contact your local Registration Office as soon as possible.

Marriage and civil partnership in housebound circumstances

In the following circumstances a housebound person is able to marry or form a civil partnership in the place they are situated providing that:

'A statement is issued and signed by a Registered Medical Practioner, not more than 14 days before the notice is given, that states the housebound person ought not, by reason of illness or disability, to move or to be moved from the place stated, and it is likely that this will be the case for at least the next three months'.

Both parties must give Notice of Marriage or Civil Partnership and the Authorities issued are valid for 3 months only. The fee for the Superintendent Registrar to take the notice is £47; the notice fee is £70 for the two; the ceremony fee is £81; and the Registrar fee to register the event is £84. Certificates are £11 each. The total fee including one certificate is £293.

The ceremony can be either civil or religious.

For further information on this subject please contact your local Registration Office.

Marriage and civil partnership in detained circumstances

A statement is required by the authority responsible for the place of detention and this form must be signed not more than 21 days before the Notice of Marriage or Civil Partnership is given.

Both parties must give Notice.

One of the Notices will be attested at the Registration Office at a cost of £35, unless a party is subject to Immigration Control in which case a Registration Officer from a Designated Register Office must take both notices together at the place of detention.

The fee for the Superintendent Registrar to take the notice away from the office is £68 plus the cost of the notice at £35; the ceremony fee is £94; and the Registrar fee to register the event is £88. Certificates are £11 each. The total cost is £331 including one certificate.

The ceremony can be either a civil or religious one.

For further information please contact your nearest Registration Office.

Out of hours contact

If you need to contact us regarding an urgent matter (such as a ceremony where one person has a short life expectancy) at a time when the County Council's contact centre is closed (open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm Saturday, excluding bank holidays) then please telephone Cambridgeshire Constabulary on 101.