The introduction of the marriage schedule system

The Marriages, Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Act 2019

The Act will modernise how marriages are registered for the first time since 1837, through issue of a marriage schedule system and registration in an electronic register. It will move away from the current paper register creating a more secure system for keeping marriage records, that is also more efficient and far simpler to administer and amend, if necessary, in the future.

The electronic register will also allow for the names of parents of the couple (mother/father/parent) to be included in the marriage entry and on marriage certificates, instead of only their fathers' names as is currently the case.

This will be implemented from 4 May 2021.

What will change?

Ceremonies at Our Venues and Approved Marriage and Civil Partnership Venues

• Couples will not be invited to sign a marriage register but will be invited to sign a marriage schedule which is an A4 document.
• Couples will have the option to include up to 4 parents in the schedule and subsequently their marriage certificate i.e. Mother, Father, Stepmother and Stepfather.
• Couples will not receive marriage certificates on the day of the marriage these will be processed in a specified timescale by the Registration Office in business hours for posting out to the ceremony couple.

Marriages in Religious Buildings (not Church of England)

• From the date of implementation, if couples have already collected their Certificates for Marriage (blue paperwork) couples will need to arrange to collect the marriage schedule for their ceremony to take place. The Registration Team can be contacted on 01902 555777 to make arrangements for this.
• On the day of the ceremony, couples will not be invited to sign a marriage register but will be invited to sign a marriage schedule which is an A4 document.
• Couples will have the option to include up to 4 x parents in the schedule and subsequently their marriage certificate i.e. Mother, Father, Stepmother and Stepfather.
• Couples will not receive marriage certificates on the day of the marriage.
• Couples are expected to return the signed schedule to the Register Office in the District where the marriage took place within 21 days. We will issue a pro-forma with the schedule for ceremony couples to complete with contact information and the number of certificates they require – certificates are £11 each when purchased directly after registration.

Church of England Marriages

• On the day of the ceremony, couples will not be invited to sign a marriage register but will be invited to sign a marriage document which is an A4 document.
• Couples will have the option to include up to 4x parents in the schedule and subsequently their marriage certificate i.e. Mother, Father, Stepmother and Stepfather.
• Couples will not receive marriage certificates on the day of the marriage.
• Couples are expected to return the signed marriage document to the Register Office in the District where the marriage took place within 21 days. We will issue a pro-forma for ceremony couples to complete and return with the signed schedule indicating how many certificates they wish to purchase and their contact information. Certificates are £11 each when purchased directly after registration.

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