Marriage

Information Regarding Marriage In The Isle Of Man

Church of England marriages
In the case of marriage in a church of the Church of England, no reference to the Civil Registrar is necessary in the Isle of Man, and enquiries should be made to the Vicar of the Church where the ceremony is to take place. A list of Ministers and Clergy is available from the Civil Registry or from the Church of England Registrar (611211).
Marriages other than Church of England
Marriages may be solemnised by the certificate with licence of a Registrar or by certificate of a Registrar in the office of a Registrar of Marriages or in certain Non-Conformist Churches in the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man does not yet have the facility to marry in an approved building or location.

Residency And Notice Of Marriage

To marry in the Isle of Man either the groom or the bride, must have been resident within the registration district that the marriage is to take place for 15 full days. That person must then attend the office for that district and that person must sign the ‘Notice of Marriage.’ This is a legal document stating their intention to marry.

The Notice of Marriage is placed in the Marriage Notice Book which can be inspected by the public at any time when the office is open. If no objections to the notice are made within 3 full working days the Registrar’s Certificate with Licence is issued. The marriage ceremony can now take place.

If both parties have been resident for 15 full days, in the district that the marriage is to take place, the marriage can be by Certificate without licence. In this case the Notice of Marriage must be open to the public for 21 full working daysbefore the Registrar’s Certificate is issued. The marriage can then take place.

(The period of notice does not include any Bank Holidays or Sundays that fall within that period. Peel and Ramsey offices are not open on Saturdays so that will not be included in the notice period either)

Where the parties have been resident for 15 days in different registration districts within the Isle of Man, a separate notice may be given by each of the parties to their respective registrars. One of the parties must be resident in the district in which the marriage is to take place. The Notices must be open to the public for 21 working days before the Registrar’s Certificates without licence are issued. The marriage can then take place.

PLEASE NOTE: Isle of Man Certificates with Licence or Certificates are valid for 3 months from the date of giving Notice. Please ensure that licences or certificates will still be valid for the date of your ceremony.

Documents To Be Produced To The Registrar

Where either of the parties has been previously married and the marriage has ended either in the death of the former spouse or in the dissolution of the marriage, documentary evidence of the freedom to marry (eg. Certified copies of a death certificate with marriage certificate, or a certified copy of a divorce decree absolute) must be produced. Please note that photocopies of these documents will not be accepted.

Both parties must produce Full Birth certificates to the Registrar. He or she will take a copy of this or take details from it and return it to you immediately. If birth certificates are not available a passport will sometimes be acceptable but you must inform the Registrar of any changes of name.

The Registrar will also need to see any documentation of any change of name by deed poll or statutory declaration. Failure to produce these documents will cast doubt on your legal name and could delay arrangements for your wedding ceremony. If there is doubt about your legal name, ask the Registrar for advice.

The minimum age for marriage in the Isle of Man is 16 years, and between the ages of 16 and 18 years parental consent is required. There are special provisions which the Registrar will explain to you if either or both parents are dead, or if the parents are divorced or legally separated. A special form must be obtained from the Registrar for parents to sign in front of witnesses, giving their consent to the marriage.

There are some degrees of relationships that are not allowed to marry. Please contact the Registrar if you wish to see the full list of forbidden relationships.

Registrar's Office Marriages

The Registries staff will make every effort to make sure that your wedding ceremony is both happy and memorable. We want you to enjoy a ceremony which combines warmth and dignity, and would wish you every happiness in your future together.

This booklet outlines the offices available in the Island. We do our best to meet special requirements.

The Registrars Office Douglas - Includes the Parishes of Marown, Lonan, Onchan and Braddan and the Town of Douglas.

The Marriage Room was planned by Government architects to make the most of the light and modern look of the building. A CD of local artists playing soothing music will be played while your guests enter the room and during the signing of the register. The room opens out onto the courtyard frontage of the Isle of Man Courts of Justice. The wedding room is on the ground floor, with a small step out to the courtyard. A ramp is available with prior notice.

For the safety and comfort of all users, no smoking is allowed in any part of the Civil Registry. The building is a centre for very old and important records and so the alarm system is very sensitive. Guests should extinguish cigarettes in the cigarette bin at the front entrance.

There is no objection to a single video recording of the ceremony, but other photographers are asked to wait until the end of the ceremony, when there will be time for formal and informal pictures. The Registrar conducting the ceremony will be able to advise you further.

Parking

Like most commercial centres we have no off-street parking, and during working hours the streets tend to be lined with cars. There are parking spaces in Albert Street for those requiring disabled access. The nearest car park is at Chester Street but this also tends to be very busy. Guests have to make their own arrangements for parking, or travel by taxi. Registrar’s Office Postal Address:

Civil Registry Douglas

Address:	Civil Registry Registries Building Bucks Road Douglas Isle of Man
Post Code:	IM1 3AR
Telephone:	+ 44 (0) 1624 687039
Fax:	+ 44 (0) 1624 687039

Office hours 9.00 - 13.00 and 14.00 to 17.00 (Saturdays 9.30 -11.30). Weddings by appointment.(Saturdays 11.30, 12.00 and 12.30).

Castletown - Includes the Parishes of Santon, Malew, Arbory and Rushen and the Town of Castletown

Registrar’s Office situated in Derby House which is in the grounds of ‘Castle Rushen’. An ideal location for special wedding photographs. The wedding room is on the 1st floor with no lift access.

Telephone: (01624 823326) Office hours 9.00 - 10.00am Wedding ceremonies at times arranged with the Registrar.

Ramsey - Includes the Parishes of Jurby, Andreas, Bride, Lezayre and Maughold and the Town of Ramsey

Registrar’s Office is situated at The Town Hall, Parliament Square, Ramsey. An impressive wedding room with large windows overlooking Parliament Square and looking up to the mountain. (01624 817762) The wedding room is on the first floor with lift access. Extra charges may be due to the commissioners for the use of the wedding room for cutting the wedding cake after the ceremony. Contact The Town Hall staff for further details.

Registrar’s Office hours Monday to Friday 10.00 - 13.00

Weddings at times arranged with the Registrar.

Monday - Thursday 10 - 3.30

Fridays 10 - 3

Saturdays 10 - 3.30

Peel - Includes the Parishes of Patrick, German, Michael and Ballaugh and the Town of Peel

Registrar’s Office is in the Town Hall, Derby Road, Peel (01624 842341). The ceremony takes place in the boardroom of the Commissioners, which boasts an impressive stained glass window.

Office hours 9 - 5 Monday to Friday. Weddings weekdays 9 to 16.30

Saturdays 9.00 - 12.30.

Marriage In The UK

There is the facility to marry by Registrar’s Certificate without licence in the UK as long as both the parties have been resident for 7 days immediately preceding the giving of Notice of Marriage to the Registrar in the UK. You should obtain details of the regulations and laws of the UK from the Registrar where you are to be married.

Where one of the parties resides in the UK and the other party in the Island, and the marriage is to take place in the UK, both parties may each give the requisite notice to the Registrars of their respective districts after the necessary residence (7 days in the UK and 15 days in the Isle of Man). 21 working days must elapse before the two Certificates would be issued. The Certificates must be delivered to the Registrar conducting the marriage ceremony before the ceremony can take place.

Please Note: The UK Certificates are valid for 12 months from the date of giving Notice. Isle of Man Certificates with Licence or Certificates are valid for 3 months from the date of giving Notice. Please ensure that licences or certificates will still be valid for the date of your ceremony.

The Registrars will be pleased to assist you with any further enquiries you may wish to make.

This leaflet gives general guidance only and should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of the law.

Issued by the Registries Division. Isle of Man. December 2001

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