Getting Married in Angus

With its spectacular scenery, spiritual heritage and famed hospitality, Angus is the ideal location for your special day.

Any two people, regardless of where they live, may marry in Scotland provided that they are:

Both at least 16 years of age on the day of their marriage
Not related to one another in a way which would prevent their marrying
Unmarried (anyone who has been married must produce documentary evidence that the previous marriage has been ended by death, divorce or annulment)
Capable of understanding the nature of a marriage ceremony and of consenting to marriage
Able to have the marriage regarded as valid in any foreign country to which either party belong.

See also our information on Civil Partnerships for people of the same sex.

In Scotland, you can be married in either a religious marriage or a civil marriage. You can each obtain a marriage notice form, and information about fees, from any registrar in Angus (Arbroath, Forfar and Montrose). Each of you must complete and submit a marriage notice, along with the required documents and a fee to the registrar for the district in which the marriage is to take place. More information regarding services for weddings is available in our listings.

For more information about fees, required documents and registration, contact the chief registrar on Tel: 01241 873752.

Civil Partnerships

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 creates civil partnership, a new form of legal relationship which may be formed by two persons who are:

the same sex
not already in an existing civil partnership or lawfully married;
not within the prohibited degrees of relationships
both aged sixteen years or over

Civil partnership is not marriage but a parallel relationship of similar seriousness and commitment which has been created in order to provide same-sex couples with a means of having their relationship legally recognised if they wish. It confers on the couple the status of being each other's civil partner. A civil partnership is formed by going through a registration procedure with similarities to civil marriage. The Act also provides for certain registered legal relationships under foreign law (including same-sex marriage in countries which allow this) to be recognised in the UK as civil partnerships.

From January to March 2006 in Scotland, 259 civil partnerships (167 male and 92 female) were registered, with a further 84 (53 male and 31 female) in December 2005, bringing the number to 343.

Registrar General Duncan Macniven has said recently:

'Over 300 couples have registered civil partnerships in Scotland since the Act came into force in December 2005. Local registrars have been exemplary in introducing this new legislation, helping same-sex partners to have a relaxed and happy experience on their important day.'

Click here for the Scottish Executive's guidance on How to Register A Civil Partnership