Exceptional circumstances ceremonies can be held where the ceremony is extremely urgent due to the health of one of the couple. They can also take place where one of the couple cannot travel to give notice or attend a ceremony - for example, if they are housebound or in prison.
Urgent ceremony for health reasons
When a partner is seriously ill and not expected to recover, a marriage or civil partnership ceremony can take place at very short notice. These are known as Registrar General's Licence ceremonies.
Ceremonies under Registrar General's Licence will take place wherever the person is who is unwell. This means that they can take place at locations not normally able to hold ceremonies, such as your home, hospitals and hospices.
The usual waiting periods do not apply. We will often conduct a ceremony on the same day that we are first contacted about it.
There are still legal requirements that will need to be completed before the ceremony can take place. The party who is well will need an appointment at the Register Office to give notice. We will need a medical letter confirming certain information as well as evidence of your personal details. We will go through these requirements with you when you get in touch with us.
Couples will need to pay the following fees set by the Government:
- Issue of a Registrar General’s Licence - this includes the notice fee = £20
- Marriage or civil partnership certificate = £12.50 each
How to arrange an urgent ceremony
Please contact us as soon as you are aware that you wish to have such a ceremony.
- Telephone: 01733 864646 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
- Email: peterboroughregisteroffice@peterborough.gov.uk
Please contact us to discuss if one of the couple are housebound or detained in prison and cannot travel to give notice or attend a ceremony.