Marriage and civil partnership

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – marriages and civil partnerships

From 13 July 2020, Thurrock Register Office is accepting appointments for notices of marriage and civil partnerships.

If you had already booked an appointment, we will contact you to arrange a new date and time. If your ceremony is due to take place before September 2020, please call us to discuss and arrange an appointment. We will resume notices for later dates in due course.

From 4 July 2020, civil ceremonies can take place. We are currently prioritising ceremonies that had been booked to take place in the Register Office, Lacey Room or Hawthorne Suite of the Thameside Complex between March and July. We will contact couples in due course to provide guidance and new terms and conditions before rescheduling your ceremony, should you wish to.

If your ceremony had been due to take place at one of our approved premises and you wish to change the date, you should email register.office@thurrock.gov.uk. If you are keeping your original date, we will contact you in due course to provide further advice and guidance.

You must not come to the Register Office if you or anyone in your household has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). All visitors must follow government social distancing guidance and safety requests from staff.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges are as follows.

Marriage or civil partnership certificates

You can order a certificate online.

Item Collection or delivery Cost
Standard certificate In person at the Register Office at the time of registration £11
Standard or short certificate 24-hour next day service – includes first class post, if needed £35
15-day standard service – includes second class post, if needed £11
Additional postage and packaging First class recorded delivery £3.50
Special delivery, guaranteed next working day £9.50

Marriage, civil partnership, naming, renewal of vows or commitment ceremonies

The following fees apply:

  • a £35 per person non-refundable fee for an appointment to give a notice of marriage or civil partnership
  • a £46 non-refundable deposit is required when booking a ceremony at the register office
  • a £100 non-refundable deposit is required when booking a ceremony at the Thameside Complex Hawthorne Suite, Lacey Room or any approved premise

You should give at least 24-hours written notice if you need to cancel your ceremony.

A £35 admin fee is payable if the date or time of any ceremony is changed with 24-hours written notice. The full fee will be charged for:

  • failure to attend
  • cancellation with less than 24 hours' notice

Marriage or civil partnership ceremonies at Thurrock Register Office or Thameside Complex

The following premises fees apply.

Location Day Cost
Superintendent registrar's office, capacity for the couple and 2 witnesses only Monday to Saturday £46
Lacey Room, capacity up to 12 guests only Monday to Saturday £146
Hawthorn Suite, capacity up to 70 guests only Monday to Friday £220
Saturday – morning £280
Saturday – afternoon £350
Thameside Theatre Monday to Friday £270
Saturday – morning £330
Saturday – afternoon £400

Marriage or civil partnership ceremonies at other approved premises

Fee payable to Thurrock Council via the Superintendent Registrar (for their attendance and that of the registrar of marriages) before whom a civil marriage or civil partnership is to be solemnised in any of the other approved premises listed on our approved premises page:

Day Cost
Monday to Friday £495
Saturday £540
Sunday and public holidays £575

Naming, renewal of vows and commitment ceremonies

The following premises fees apply:

Location Day Cost
Lacey Room, capacity up to 12 guests only Monday to Friday £290
Saturday £340
Approved premises Monday to Friday £310
Saturday £360
Sunday £410

Changes to initial registration

The following fees apply:

  • £75 – consideration by the Registrar or Superintendent Registrar of a correction
  • £90 – consideration by the Registrar General of a correction

Fees are payable to the Registrar or Superintendent Registrar.

Conversion of a civil partnership into marriage at Thurrock Register Office

The following fees apply:

  • £45 – conversion of a civil partnership into marriage, full process

Conversion of a civil partnership into marriage at other approved premises

The following fees apply:

  • £27 – completing the declaration
  • £91 – signing the declaration in a religious building registered for the marriage of same sex couples

We set the fee for signing the declaration on approved premises in Thurrock, or in Thurrock Register Office at a different time or a different place from where the declaration was completed.

Divorce and civil partnership dissolution

The following fees apply:

  • £50 – consideration by the Superintendent Registrar of a divorce obtained outside of the British Isles
  • £75 – consideration by the Registrar General of a divorce obtained outside of the British Isles
  • £50 – consideration by the registration authority of a civil partnership dissolution obtained outside of the British Isles
  • £75 – consideration by the Registrar General of a civil partnership dissolution obtained outside of the British Isles