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You are entitled to get married if you are over 18 years old and either single, widowed or divorced. You may get married if you are aged 16 or 17 if you have parental consent.
A marriage can take place at a register office, at a building approved for civil marriage or in a religious building registered for the solemnisation of marriage.
For more information on the legal requirements of getting married, see: The law on getting married
A couple both of the same sex cannot get married, but are able to enter into a civil partnership. For more information on civil partnerships, see: Registering your civil partnership,
A prenuptial agreement states what should happen to assets should a marriage come to an end. Although such agreements are not fully enforceable in UK law, they are highly persuasive and will usually be taken into account by the court before they make any decision as to who gets what.
Prenuptial agreements are becoming more and more popular because the courts have shown an increasing tendency to be persuaded by their terms. For more information on prenuptial agreements, see: Prenuptial agreements.
You may change your name at any time, provided you do not intend to deceive or defraud another person by doing so. You may change your forename or surname, add names or rearrange your existing names. In most cases, you may change your name informally by simply using your new name.
When you get married you may wish to formally change your name for all purposes and may do so either by statutory declaration or deed poll.
a) Deed poll
A deed poll is the traditional way a person indicates that he or she has changed his or her name. Some professional bodies require members to produce a deed poll as proof of name change.
b) Statutory declaration
For most purposes, a statutory declaration is generally accepted as evidence of your change of name. A statutory declaration is a statement recording your intention to abandon your old name and adopt a new one. Changing a name by means of a statutory declaration can also be cheaper and is often chosen for this reason.
For more information on changing your name, see: Changing your name
