This
article should be read in conjunction with our articles on minimum
age and parental consent and prohibited marriages. If you have been married
before, you may also find our article on second
marriages helpful.
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Although not part of the United Kingdom, Guernsey
is a British Crown dependency and is part of the British Isles.
The British sovereign is head of state. Guernsey has been included
in our wedding guide due to its close links and proximity to
the United Kingdom. |
Guernsey
is the second largest of the Channel Islands and lies just 30 miles
off the north west coast of France and about 75 miles south of mainland
England in the English Channel. Guernsey is the principal island of
the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The other islands that make up the Bailiwick
are Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou and Lihou. This small but beautiful
island is a popular tourist destination as it is one of the warmest
and sunniest places in the British Isles. Guernsey has its own legislative
assembly known as the Assembly of the States, which has the responsibility
of running the Bailiwick's affairs, subject to the prerogative powers
of the British Crown.
You can
get married in Guernsey by either religious or civil ceremony. In
order to marry by civil ceremony or in a non-Church of England church
a licence must be obtained from the Registrar General. For all marriages,
you must ensure that two witnesses, both of whom must be over the
age of 18 years, attend your ceremony and sign the marriage register.
The
solemnisation of civil and non-Church of England marriages in the
Island of Guernsey may take place only on authority of a certificate,
a licence or a special licence of the Registrar General. Civil marriages
can take place at either the Office of the Registrar General at The
Greffe in the Royal Court House or at St. James Assembly Hall. Unless
authorised by a special licence your marriage can only be solemnised
between the hours of 8.00am and 3.00pm.
Only
one of you is required to give notice of your marriage, in person,
to the Registrar General at the Greffe, Royal Court House, St. Peter
Port, Guernsey. However, it would be helpful if both of you could
attend so the questions about both of you can be answered without
the need to make another appointment. You cannot give formal notice
more than three months prior to the date of your marriage, but you
should contact the Office of the Registrar General at The Greffe as
soon as possible after you have decided to be married, so you can
be advised on the form of notice most appropriate to your circumstances,
and (in the case of a marriage to be performed by a Registrar) so
that a provisional date and time can be reserved. One of you must
then attend at The Greffe to give formal notice of your marriage so
that your reservation can be confirmed.
The
usual method of giving notice of your marriage if you are resident
in Guernsey is to give notice to get married by certificate. The person
who gave notice must have resided in Guernsey for at least seven days
immediately preceding the day on which notice of your marriage is
given. When the Registrar is satisfied that all the requirements have
been met, he will enter your notice in the notice book. Then after
21 clear days have elapsed, the Registrar will issue your certificate
authorising your marriage to be solemnised. During the 21 day period
a copy of your notice will be exhibited in the Office of the Registrar
General at The Greffe.
To
be married by licence, the person who gave notice must have resided
in Guernsey for at least seven days immediately preceding the day
on which notice of marriage is given. After seven clear days from
the day your notice was entered in the notice book, a licence authorising
your marriage to be solemnised will be issued.
Marriage
by licence is usually most convenient for non-residents. You could,
for example, stay for eight days to establish residence and then
give notice on the eighth day. You could then return for your marriage
within three months. Alternatively, you could stay for 16 days,
giving notice on the eighth day and then get married on the 16th
day following your date of arrival in the Island.
Upon issue of either a certificate or licence, your marriage may be
solemnised at the Office of the Registrar General (Monday to Friday
commencing between 9am-12.30pm and 2pm-2.30pm, Saturday 10am-11.30am),
at St. James Assembly Hall (Monday to Friday, 9am-12.30pm and 2pm-2.30pm)
or in a place of worship licensed for marriages by the Royal Court.
Please note, the Office of the General Registrar at the Greffe is
open on alternate Saturday mornings.
If you wish to get married after 3pm (but no later than 4.30pm), you
need to apply for a special licence (see next paragraph).
If
one of you is sick and confined to a hospital or nursing home, a special
licence may be granted to enable your marriage to be solemnised in
the institution where you are confined. Please note, the Registrar
General will require a medical certificate confirming that you are
unable to attend at the Greffe by reason of ill-health. You can also
get married in your home by special licence if you live in either
Guernsey, Alderney or Sark but your ceremony must take place before
4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
To give
notice to get married by special licence, the person giving notice
must have resided in Guernsey for at least one month immediately
preceding the day on which notice is given. Then after one clear
day has elapsed (other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday)
a special licence will be issued. Your marriage may then be solemnised
in a private house or institution, at the discretion of the Registrar
General.
In all cases,
your marriage must proceed during the period between the issue of
your certificate for marriage (or special licence) and three months
from the date your notice was entered in the Registrar’s notice
book, otherwise you will have to give notice again.
If
you wish to get married in a church of the Church of England in Guernsey,
no reference to the Registrar General is needed. All arrangements
are made by the minister of the church in which your ceremony is to
take place. After your marriage has taken place, the minister will
notify the Registrar General of your marriage. The procedures for
getting married according to the rites of the Church of England are
fully explained in our article on the legal requirements of Church
of England marriages.
If
you are not a British citizen, there may be laws in your own country
which, if not observed, might render your marriage in Guernsey null
and void. Therefore, the advice of your own consul or consular agent
should be sought. In addition, you may well require the issue of an
emigration entry clearance prior to travelling from abroad. You are
therefore advised to make contact with the Chief Officer of Customs
and Immigration, Immigration and Nationality Department, White Rock,
St. Peter Port, Guernsey, British Isles, well in advance of seeking
entry so that your case may be examined
In
order to give notice of your marriage, you must provide copies of
your full birth certificates and sign a declaration that there is
no legal impediment to your proposed marriage. You will also need
to show documentary proof of your freedom to marry if either of you
have been previously married. If you are a widow, you must produce
your marriage certificate as well as your late husband's death certificate.
If you are a widower, you need only produce your late wife's death
certificate. If you have been divorced, you must produce a court sealed
or certified copy of your decree absolute or final decree.
If either
of you are not ordinarily resident in Guernsey you will need to
provide a certificate of no impediment confirming that you are free
to marry your partner. Application for such a certificate should
be made to the Registrar in the district where you ordinarily reside.
If any of your documents are in a language other than English, they
must be accompanied by officially certified translations in English.
If you are
a non-resident of the Island, you are strongly advised to check
with the Registrar General that your documents are satisfactory
before you make your journey to the Island.
For
further information and advice about getting married in Guernsey,
please telephone the Office of the Registrar General on +44 (0)1481-725277.
Alternatively, you can write to the Office of the Registrar General
at The Greffe, Royal Court House, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 2PB,
Channel Islands.
If you still have any unanswered questions about the legal requirements
of getting married in Guernsey, please post your question on our Wedding
Forum.
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