Humanist weddings have the
same legal status as civil and religious weddings as long as they are conducted
by an HSS Celebrant who has been authorised by the Registrar General of
Scotland, and can take place anywhere 'safe and dignified'.
To make your Humanist marriage legal you need to do the following:
- Contact the Registrar in the district where the marriage is to take place, at least 6 weeks before the date of the wedding, to submit the Marriage Notice forms (M10) along with the requisite fee. This can be done 3 months before the date of the wedding (but no earlier) and you are advised to do it as soon as possible within that time. (Note: If either of you is not a British citizen, you should contact the Registrar immediately to check what documentation you will require in order to be married in Scotland.)
- Inform the Registrar that the marriage will be solemnised by a Celebrant of the Humanist Society Scotland, by completing Section F of the M10 forms.
- Collect the Marriage Schedule from the Registrar during the week prior to the marriage. One of the parties to the marriage must personally collect it.
- Give the Marriage Schedule to the Celebrant on the day of the ceremony. Please note that the marriage cannot be legally conducted without the Marriage Schedule.
- Advise the Registrar in advance if there is any possibility of the marriage not taking place on the date or in the place specified (for example in the case of an outdoor ceremony being rained off).
- Take care of the signed Marriage Schedule and to return it to the Registrar within 3 days of the wedding taking place, so that the marriage can be registered. Please note that it can be returned to the Registrar by anyone.
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