Arranging a marriage
Requirements for getting married
Documents
Each party to the marriage must complete an M10 form (PDF).
We also need details of your witnesses. Witness form (PDF).
You will also need original:
- Birth certificates
- Proof of address for both applicants
- Passports (if born after 01/01/1983)
If you have been married or in a civil partnership before, you must submit proof this has ended by providing original:
- Divorce decree/dissolution of civil partnership
- Or a death certificate of your former spouse or civil partner
- Or a completed divorce questionnaire if divorce granted in a country outwith the UK.
Currently we are receiving all documents by email at registrar@midlothian.gov.uk. We must receive all relevant documents before taking payment for your ceremony.
If you have any questions about the documents required please contact the office on 0131 271 3281 and a registrar will assist you.
Before your ceremony, we will arrange an appointment to attend the office to show your original documents. Important: we cannot release the schedule until a registrar has reviewed all the documents.
When and how to submit paperwork
You can submit the paperwork 12 weeks before the date of the ceremony. However if you are a not a British national, we recommend that you give three months' notice. The minimum period is 29 clear days before the date of the ceremony.
More information on getting married in Scotland is on the National Records of Scotland website.
Non UK nationals
If you are subject to marriage laws outwith the UK, you may also need to provide a Certificate of No Impediment (CONI). This is a document from your home country stating you are free to get married or have a civil partnership.
If you have been a resident in the UK for more than two years, we will accept evidence of this in place of a CONI.
If you are subject to immigration control you should also complete a Declaration of Immigration Status form (PDF).
Contact the UK border agency for advice on entry requirements to the UK under immigration rules for marriage and civil partnerships.
If your documents are not in English, you must provide a certified translation along with the original documents.
Payment
Once we have received your email, we will check the documents are all in order and then contact you to make payment.
- Appropriate fees
Civil ceremony
Popular venues
We have a list of popular venues in Midlothian.
First check the availability of the venue and then confirm with the registrar's office that a celebrant will be available to perform the ceremony.
Alternative venues
You can also have your ceremony at a venue of your choice as long as a location assessment is done beforehand. There is a fee of £61.00 for this service. The registrar will visit the venue to assess its suitability. Contact us on the details below for more information.
Religious ceremony
If you are being married by a religious celebrant or other belief organisation (including Humanists), contact the celebrant of your choice then submit the paperwork as above. You will need to collect the marriage schedule from the registrar's office the week of your wedding and you must bring all your original documents with you. if these are not available, we will not be able to issue your marriage schedule.
Conversion of a Civil Partnership to marriage
If you are already in a Civil Partnership and wish to convert this to a Marriage, please email the registrar's office to arrange an appointment. You will need:
- A completed application form (Word doc)
- Your Civil Partnership certificate
- A form of identification for both parties.
If you wish to convert to a marriage through a ceremony, please call 0131 271 3281 and a registrar will advise how to proceed.