Urgent marriages and civil partnerships

For those that are seriously ill and not likely to recover, a wedding or civil partnership, civil or religious, can take place any time 24 hours a day using a Registrar Generals License from the borough where the unwell person is located.

Ceremonies under Registrar Generals License can take place at any location including peoples homes, hospitals and hospices.

The fee for obtaining a Registrar Generals License is £15 and medical evidence that the person is not likely to recover is required, usually in the form of a letter from the doctor treating the unwell partner. We have attached two sample letters that doctors can use if a letter needs to be written. Please note that the marriage letter can only be used for marriages and the civil partnership letter for civil partnerships.

How to arrange a Registrar Generals License

1) Obtain a letter from the doctor treating the unwell partner which outlines the following, see templates at the bottom of this page:

The doctor is in medical attendance of the person concerned
The person is seriously ill and not expected to recover
The person cannot be moved to a place registered for marriages
He / she understands the nature and purport of the marriage ceremony

2) One of the parties wishing to get married / form a civil partnership must give notice. Please contact 020 8489 2605 / 2601 to arrange this during office hours. We are open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4pm and Saturday mornings. Outside of office hours please contact the Out of Hours Service on 020 8348 3148 who will arrange for the Superintendent Registrar or his Deputy to contact you. The notice can be taken at any location although it is normally taken at the Register Office.

3) After taking the notice, the Superintendent Registrar will forward the medical letter to the General Register Office so that the application for a Registrar Generals License can be considered. The £15 fee will also be sent. The fee can be paid by cash or cheque payable to IPS.

4) If a Registrar Generals license is granted the ceremony can then take place. For a civil ceremony a Registrar and a Superintendent Registrar will attend. For a religious ceremony only a Registrar will attend. You will need to arrange for any religious person to attend.

The General Register Office can be contacted out of hours to the Custodians Office by calling 0151 471 4223.

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Marriage by Church of England special license

If a couple wish to be married in an emergency in a Church of England church, a special license from the Archbishop of Canterbury is required. In this situation please call 020 7222 5381. The address is Faculty Office, 1 The Sanctuary, London, SW1P 3JT.

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Jewish and Muslim deaths outside of normal office hours

Outside of office hours please contact the Out of Hours service on 020 8348 3148 so that a Registrar of Births and deaths can contact you. During normal opening hours (9.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday - 2pm-4.30pm on first Thursday of each month) please go to the Register Office or call us on 020 8489 2605.

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