Q. How do I arrange a date for my wedding?
Oldham Registrar Office can accept bookings up to twelve months ahead. If you wish to marry elsewhere contact the place where you wish to marry to discuss availability. Oldham Register office is open from Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 4.30 pm. For those wishing to give notice of marriage telephone 0161 770 3708 for an appointment with the Superintendent Registrar.
Q. How do I arrange to get married?
If you are intending to get married the law requires you to make these intentions publicly known. In the Church of England this is done by the publication of Banns; for marriage elsewhere, you need to give Notice of Marriage to the Superintendent Registrar of the district where you live.
A fee is payable for this service.Your wedding can only take place once the relevant authority has been issued. Your Superintendent Registrar will tell you when the authority will be due for issue and whether you will need to collect it. The authority must be in possession of the person who is to perform your wedding before the day the ceremony is to take place. It is usually valid for twelve months from the day you gave notice of marriage.
Your Superintendent Registrar will be available to answer questions on a wide range of marriage queries and can discuss any aspect regarding your marriage arrangements.
Oldham Register office is open from Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 4.30 pm.
Q. Where can the marriage ceremony take place?
A marriage can take place as a religious ceremony in a Church, Chapel or other religious building or as a civil ceremony at any register Office or ‘Approved Premises’ in England and Wales. A religious ceremony can only take place in the district where you reside, unless you attend for worship at a building outside your home district or there is no building for your religion in the district.
Q. What if the partners live in different districts?
In order to get married you will need to have a certificate. This certificate permits a marriage to take place after 15 clear days and will have been given to you at the Register Office in the district where you live. You must have lived in the district for the proceeding seven days. Therefore if you live in different districts, you must give a Notice of Marriage at each Register Office covering the areas where you live.
If you are have chosen to have a religious ceremony this can only take place in the district where you reside, unless you attend for worship at a building outside your home district or there is no building for your religion in that district. Fifteen days prior notice is required of your intention to marry must be given to your local Register Office unless you are being married by Banns in the Church of England in which case the minister will make the arrangements.
Q. What documents do I need to bring when I come to make the arrangements to get married?
The Superintendent Registrar will need to know your full name, address and ages, your occupations and also the date and place of your marriage. Each of you will be required to produce your birth certificate or passport and if either party has been married before, as evidence that you are free to marry.
Q. On which days of the week am I able to be married?
You can be married on any day of the week providing you have given appropriate notice, have the relevant authority and the wedding is booked at a approved premises and you can be married by an ‘Authorised person’ or Registrar.
Q. How can I get married as soon as possible?
In order to get married you will need to have a certificate. This certificate permits a marriage to take place after 15 clear days and will have been given to you at the Register Office in the district where you live.
Q. Do I have to take my husband's name when I get married?
No, you can keep your own name.
Q. Who do I have to notify if I decide to change my name?
You only have to notify those persons or organisations, which have an interest in your identity. For example you have to notify your employer, your bank, inland revenue etc. There is no facility to register the fact of your change of identity.