Scottish wedding legalities


In Scotland there are three ways to be legally married:

• Religious ceremonies conducted by a Minister
• Civil ceremonies conducted by a Registrar
• Humanist ceremonies conducted by a Humanist Celebrant

For all Scottish weddings, two witnesses are legally required who are aged 16 years or over and who are capable of understanding the marriage ceremony.

GIVING 'NOTICE' OF YOUR INTENTION TO MARRY

• Guidance notes are available on the Registrar General's website to help you each complete a Marriage Notice Form M10, which requires to be completed for all civil, religious and Humanist ceremonies.
• This form is to be returned to the Registrar in the three-month period prior to the date of marriage and NOT LATER THAN 15 DAYS BEFORE THE DATE OF MARRIAGE.
• Certain documents, including your birth certificates, also require to be sent along with the forms, depending on your individual circumstances, eg if you are divorced or not a UK citizen.

The Registrar General's website (www.gro-Scotland.gov.uk) states:

"You must submit the notices early enough to enable the registrar to be satisfied that you are free to marry one another. Normally notices should be in the registrar's hands about FOUR weeks before the marriage but if either of you has been married or in a Civil Partnership before, the notices should be with the registrar SIX weeks beforehand".

Once the Registrar is satisfied then a Marriage Schedule is produced. This is the most important document and no wedding can proceed without it. It cannot be issued more than seven days prior to the ceremony and must be collected in person by either the bride or groom only.

For further information on wedding legalities and protocol, contact Claire for advice.