Current marriage formalities
Marriages in Guernsey can be either a religious or a civil ceremony. To get married in Guernsey you will need to give notice of marriage if you are planning a civil or non-church of England ceremony, by attending the Greffe, at the Royal Court in person.
There is a wide choice locally for couples wanting a religious ceremony; brief details of the Island's 10 parish churches are available in the downloads section of this page.
If you have recently married and need to register your new details with various States departments, 2020 will be the very earliest that parts of this process will be made electronic, for the time being you will need to contact them individually.
You may also need to apply for a new:
- Resident Certificate/Employment Permit (Right to Work)
- Passport
- You will also need to tell the Income Tax office of your marriage
Marriage law reform
The marriage law has recently been reviewed and proposals have been agreed to update the law to make sure it is inclusive, simple and fit for a modern society. The changes to the Marriage Law were debated in February 2019, informed by the findings from the public consultation. The changes to the Law are not likely to be in place before 2020 at the earliest.
When the new Law is in place the changes will give couples more control and choice over their marriage ceremony and continue to ensure that appropriate checks and safeguards are in place to try to protect vulnerable people from illegal, forced and sham marriages. See the FAQs in the downloads section.
