Intent to Marry without set date?

Shelli2

Hi All,



We got enganged on 05th December and we both agree that we don't want a long engagement and had intially planned to set a date for sometime in 2019. It will be a very casual style wedding, so I don't anticipate too much organising needed in advance.


However, on 21st December my Father was dignosed with Leukemia, and I 100% won't be going ahead with any wedding until he's fit to attend - he won't even be out of hospital for about 6mths.



I would however like to push ahead as soon as he's given the go ahead from docs to attend, and it could be a very small and quick affair.



Can I register our intent to marry without a date? And if so, how long do I then to I have to set the date (does it expire?)

oLoonatic

It must be within 6 months of the initial date set. as far as i know you do need a set date.

seamus

Yes. You will have to give them a "proposed" date, but the ceremony does not have to take place on that date, just within six months of that date.

So what I would do is pick an early date which might work - say 21st June 2019 - and give that date to the registrar, but also explain the situation to the registrar. They don't want to "catch you out", they'd be happy to help you set it up. So the chances of 21st June working for you are probably pretty low, but it means that you can have the ceremony at any point between then and 21st December 2019.

Book your notification appointment as soon as you can - you have to give at least 3 months' notice, so if you were to get married on 21st June, you would have to give notification by 21st March. And these appointments get booked up fast.

Best of luck and I hope it works out for you.

infor123

I thought it was six months from wen you register your intent to marry. The idea being that it makes sure you haven’t time to marry someone else etc etc. So whatever date you go to the registrar to get the intent registered you must be married within six months.

Sorry to hear about your dad OP. Hope he gets well soon.

pooch90

infor123 wrote: »

I thought it was six months from wen you register your intent to marry. The idea being that it makes sure you haven’t time to marry someone else etc etc. So whatever date you go to the registrar to get the intent registered you must be married within six months.

Sorry to hear about your dad OP. Hope he gets well soon.

No, it's what Seamus has said above

jellybear

infor123 wrote: »

I thought it was six months from wen you register your intent to marry. The idea being that it makes sure you haven’t time to marry someone else etc etc. So whatever date you go to the registrar to get the intent registered you must be married within six months.

No, it's 6 months from the date you give. As in, if you say June 21st 2019 you must be married by December 21st 2019. That's where the 6 month thing comes in.

infor123

jellybear wrote: »

No, it's 6 months from the date you give. As in, if you say June 21st 2019 you must be married by December 21st 2019. That's where the 6 month thing comes in.

Oh thanks for clearing that up for me

jlm29

I’ve also known of three couples who have skipped the intent to marry bit, but had to go before a judge (quick and painless I believe), to explain the circumstances, and were able to marry as planned.
In two cases, it was because the couples did not realise that it was a necessity (I would insert a roll eyes emoji here if my phone would let me), in the third, one half of the couple was ill and they were in a rush to marry.
If you have the dates a bit wrong, there’s ways around it