New rules for UK marriages kicking in on 1 Feb 2005

When you went to give notice, did they ask you if you'd been living in the district at least 7 days?

Yes

If so, what did you tell them?

I told them the truth - which was yes.

Yes


 I told them the truth - which was yes.

Sorry. I wanted to know if they asked you if you had been living in the district where you were giving notice. I thought you meant that you weren't able to give notice in the district where you lived, because they didn't take Americans.  In which case, the correct answer to, "Have you been living in this district (the one where you gave notice) for 7 days" would have been "no".

I think that a listing of the type that you're looking for would be too large to be useful. You can use the search function right on the main web page for the General Register Office to find your local register office. Just put in your post code or town name. 
 
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/
 
You can use this site if you're getting married in England or Wales - they have links to the equivalent offices in Scotland and Northern Ireland at the bottom of the page.

I don't believe that Jacky's answer was incorrect if she was referred to main register office from first going to a sub-district one. There's a sub-district office in Leamington Spa that may or may not have been able take my notice since I'm American. We were planning on heading to the main office in Warwick anyway.  Hopefully it'll be a designated office come February.

I looked at that website and it is confusing because I get a different response based on whether I enter the city or the post-code. If I enter the postcode, I get 1 register offices; if I enter the city, I get 19 register offices.

I didn't know there were main districts and sub-districts. That's what I am looking for, a clarification (a map, perhaps?) of the districts and any divisions of them.  I just assumed that someone living in the City of York would normally (immigration rules notwithstanding)  have to register at the York City register office.  Is there a larger registry district which includes not just York, but a number of surrounding cities, such as Hull and Leeds, so that I can register in any one of those cities? 

I looked at that website and it is confusing because I get a different response based on whether I enter the city or the post-code. If I enter the postcode, I get 1 register offices; if I enter the city, I get 19 register offices.

I didn't know there were main districts and sub-districts. That's what I am looking for, a clarification (a map, perhaps?) of the districts and any divisions of them. I just assumed that someone living in the City of York would normally (immigration rules notwithstanding) have to register at the York City register office. Is there a larger registry district which includes not just York, but a number of surrounding cities, such as Hull and Leeds, so that I can register in any one of those cities?

I think you'd be best off getting a phone number and speaking to a person who works there.  They'll be able to tell you exactly what you need to know. 

I think you'd be best off getting a phone number and speaking to a person who works there.  They'll be able to tell you exactly what you need to know. 

You are correct. I do think, though,  that it would be nice if we could have a clear list of registry districts and sub-districts, for everyone on the board to use.  I have a feeling I might not be the only one who is confused.

I am not sure if such a thing exists, but if you find one, do post details.

Sorry. I wanted to know if they asked you if you had been living in the district where you were giving notice. I thought you meant that you weren't able to give notice in the district where you lived, because they didn't take Americans.  In which case, the correct answer to, "Have you been living in this district (the one where you gave notice) for 7 days" would have been "no".

I went to the Clevedon registry office after living there for 3 weeks (21 days) and they told me they didn't do American's, that I would have to go to Weston super Mare.

Please don't misconstrue what I wrote.

Jacky, you posted right after I posted about giving notice in one district and living in another.   I think I made it clear from my other post that I do not know where the district divisions are, and therefore there is no way for me to know whether Clevedon and Weston-Super-Mare are  in the same district.  I don't know why you would have even mentioned your experience if they are in the same district, since I specifically mentioned living in and giving notice in two separate districts.   Of course, if they are in the same district then you told the truth  when you told the register that you had been living in the district. But how am I supposed to know that they are in the same district?

If you don't want to be misconstrued, express yourself clearly.

They're going to have to change the rules about getting married in the district where you live if the district where you live doesn't accept notice from immigrants.

The following post was posted immediately after the above post.

Well when we got married (1999), we went down to the registry office in Clevedon and they said - and I quote "you can't get married in Clevedon - we don't do Americans". So we had to get married in Weston-super-Mare - who do Americans

Sorry . . . I thought you meant that you weren't able to give notice in the district where you lived,

I didn't know there were main districts and sub-districts. That's what I am looking for, a clarification (a map, perhaps?) of the districts and any divisions of them.

Later: I was embarrassed to admit that I didn't know where Clevedon or Weston-Super-Mare are, so I did a google search and found that Clevedon has a population of about 23,000, Weston-Super-Mare, about 32,500. You really shoudn't expect someone who does not live in the area to know where these small towns are.

I think Jacky was just giving an example of giving notice.  No harm there and nothing to get riled about.

And like I said, you're better off phoning, speaking to a real person and asking someone who works there.  Just like you cannot be expected to know where Weston-super-mare is, members of this forum cannot be expected to know details of registry districts and sub-districts in York. 

If you don't want to be misconstrued, express yourself clearly.

If you want answers to your questions then google it - I offered my experience to make the point that even 5 years ago some registry offices do not marry Americans. 

If you want to argue something that you haven't got a clue about - then shut it and find out for yourself.  Don't try and make out that people are "wrong" because you don't happen to have a clue about what question you want to ask or what answer you need to find.

This was my experience and it actually happened.  When/if you actually get married - share with us what your experience was.  In the meantime take advice where it is given and stop argueing if you don't understand what people are talking about.

Clear enough?

And with that note can we please return to discussing new rules for UK marriages kicking in on Feb. 1 2005. 

Question has been asked and answered. 

Any specific questions, please start a new thread. 

And a warning that this thread will probably be tidied up sometime in the next week or so. 

Thank you, thank you.

And a warning that this thread will probably be tidied up sometime in the next week or so. 

Just to be sure that everything's answered, I have put the official list of designated offices at http://londonelegance.com/transpondia/dro/

But we should note that *ALL* offices in Scotland and NI are designated...

Thanks for the list Garry, but what's up with the pic at the top? I wasn't sure I was at the right website for a moment. 

I was just thinking the same thing! Bit soft porn-ish!