Witnesses for marriages and civil partnerships

When you get married or form a civil partnership, you must have two witnesses to sign the schedule.

Witnesses can be friends or family, they must be able to understand the proceedings and be able to speak and understand English.

Children can be witnesses but we require that at least two of your witnesses are over 18 years of age. 

The registration service cannot provide witnesses or act as witnesses for your ceremony.

They will be asked to sign the schedule and their names will be included on your certificate.

If you change your witnesses after completing your ceremony choices form you do not need to notify the ceremony team. You can tell the registrar at your ceremony the names of your new witnesses.