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Marriage and civil partnerships terms and conditions

Expand the menu items below to read the full terms and conditions of the Bath & North East Somerset Registration Service.

Fees

Payments can be made by phoning 01225 477234 during our office hours. We can accept all major credit and debit cards except AMEX.

Deposit (Non-Refundable)

Please be advised that a non-refundable deposit of £100 is payable to secure your ceremony date and time. This is taken at the time of booking (whether online or by telephone) and is subtracted from the ceremony fee.

Ceremony fees

The remainder of the ceremony and certificate fees must be paid at least two calendar months before the date of your ceremony. In the case of bookings made within two months of the proposed date, full payment is required at the time of booking.

Please see our website for our ceremony fees and charges.

Our fees are reviewed annually but may be subject to change at other times. If your ceremony is taking place after 1st April new fees will apply. Please check our website or email register_office@bathnes.gov.uk to find out the cost of your ceremony. New fees are usually confirmed in January.

Cancellation

You are required to cancel your ceremony by emailing register_office@bathnes.gov.uk. We are unable to take cancellations over the phone. The ceremony and certificate fees can only be refunded to the person who made the original payment.

If you cancel two calendar months or more before the date of the ceremony, the full ceremony (minus the £100 non-refundable deposit) and any certificate fees will be refunded to the cardholder.

If you cancel between two calendar months and two weeks before the date of the ceremony, 50% of the ceremony fee (minus the £100 non-refundable deposit) will be refunded to the cardholder. For example, if £450 was paid, we will refund £175. Payment for any certificates will be refunded in full.

There is no refund if you cancel two weeks or less before the date of the ceremony.

You may wish to consider taking out an appropriate insurance policy in case your ceremony has to be cancelled or postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.

Notice of Marriage or Civil Partnership

Bath & North East Somerset Registration Service advises that you make an appointment to give notice of marriage or civil partnership at least six months before the date of your ceremony unless we have agreed another timescale with you. The minimum time to give notice is 30 days (unless subject to immigration control - please see below) before the date of your ceremony but we strongly advise you allow more time for these legal preliminaries. Notice of marriage or civil partnership is given by appointment in the district where you live.

A statutory fee of £35 per person is payable to your local Register Office to give your Notice. This is payable when you book your appointment.

It is your responsibility to notify us if you are unable to give notice within the time span specified above. We reserve the right to cancel your ceremony booking if you do not arrange to give notice of marriage or civil partnership within the requested time.

If you have any queries, please email register_office@bathnes.gov.uk.

Please note: If you have changed your venue since giving notice, you will need to give notice again and a fee of £35 per person will be payable for each new notice given. This is a legal requirement.

Please be aware that registration officials are required to refer to the Home Office all proposed marriages and civil partnerships where either or both of the parties are not British or Irish citizens, or do not have the relevant immigration status. This also applies to EU, EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or who have not applied to the EU Settlement Scheme before 30th June 2021. This may result in the legal notice period between giving notice and getting married or forming a civil partnership being extended from 28 days to 70 days. For more information, please visit gov.uk.

Losses due to events outside of the control of the B&NES Registration Service

Bath & North East Somerset Registration Service is not responsible for delays, cancellations or amendments to the date and/or time of your scheduled ceremony that are outside of our control.

If the performance of our obligations in respect to your ceremony is affected by an event outside of our control (to include, without limitation, severe weather or flooding that substantially disrupts transportation routes) then we will contact you as soon as possible to let you know and we will take steps to minimise the effect of any such delay, cancellation or amendment.

Provided we do this and have taken reasonable precautions to avoid the effects of such an event, we will not be liable for delays, cancellations or amendments caused by the event. If there is a risk of substantial delays, cancellations or amendments caused by the event, you may contact us to end the contract and receive a refund for the difference between the cost of any services you have paid us for but not received and any actual expenditure incurred by us in respect of our obligations in respect of your ceremony prior to us receiving your request for a refund.