Derby City Council has today announced it will waive the fee associated with re-issuing a Notice of Marriage (NOM) for those couples who, through no fault of their own, have been forced to wait beyond the allowed 12-month notice period, or have had to change the venue.
This will apply to marriage ceremonies that have been postponed or delayed beyond the validity period of the NOM due to COVID-19 pandemic, or where meeting social distancing rules require a change in the venue. Ordinarily any re-issued NOM would be charged at £70 per couple.
Guidance issued by the General Registry Office (GRO), the body that regulates the activities of the Registration Services in England and Wales, stated that:
“There is no provision in law for the validity period to be extended beyond the 12-month period, or for a venue to be changed on a notice. Any such amendments would require changes to primary marriage legislation which is the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice. In these instances, a fresh notice will be required. It is for each local authority to determine if a new notice fee will be charged.”
As such the Council has decided to waive these fees at an estimated loss in income of around £14,000.
The Registration Service was forced to stop NOM/CP appointments, wedding ceremonies along with civil partnership formations, birth registrations and citizenship ceremonies from the end of March as the country went into lockdown. Now the COVID secure Royal Oak House office has re-opened on an appointment only basis which you can make on the Council website , by calling 01332 641680 or using the online form.
Cllr Mick Barker, Cabinet Member for Licensing and Governance said:
I’m pleased we have been able to make this arrangement for couples who will have been so disappointed to have had to postpone their special day. Although this will result in some lost income it is the right thing to do for our residents and I wish those about to get married all the very best for the future!