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LEGAL ADVICE

UPDATED as of 16.01.23

PLEASE NOTE THIS PAGE IS FOR TIE THE KNOT BRIDES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE SHARED PUBLICLY 

WEDDING PAPERWORK

Due to Brexit, there have been some further changes to the paperwork required, Below is the VERY LATEST INFORMATION - ISSUED 16.01.23 

 

EVERYONE:

  • Full Birth certificates that show your parent's names (these do not require an Apostile stamp) 

  • A valid UK passport for both the bride & groom

  • Photocopies of your Witnesses' Passports.

  • A CNI (Certificate of non-Impediment)  issued by your local registrar's office This Certificate should be sealed with an APOSTILLE.

  • OR 

  • A “No Trace Letter”  This Certificate should be sealed with an APOSTILLE. In the case that the No Trace Letter doesn’t cover the last 18 months, you will also need to supply a Statutory Declaration/Affidavit. This certificate must be signed, certified and dated by a UK practicing Solicitor or Notary Public. This Certificate should be sealed with an APOSTILLE.

  • IF EITHER PARTY IS DIVORCED: Your original Decree Absolute or a certified copy sealed with an APOSTILLE. 

  • IF EITHER PARTY IS WIDOWED: Your original marriage certificate with apostille stamp
 & Death certificates of the deceased spouse both documents should be sealed with an APOSTILLE. 

  • IF EITHER PARTY HAS CHANGED THEIR NAME: Deed Poll Certificate sealed with an APOSTILLE. 

  • The name on all documents confirming your civil status must be matching with the name on your passport otherwise you must provide Name Change Document. 

HOW TO APPLY FOR A "NO TRACE LETTER"  

THIS CAN BE DONE VIA: https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/contact_us.asp  IT APPEARS THE EASIEST WAY IS TO ORDER VIA PHONE:  on +44 (0)300 123 1837 (8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. Saturday 9am to 1pm). Calls to 0300 numbers cost no more than calls to UK numbers starting 01 and 02 and should be part of any inclusive minutes that apply to your provider and call package. Please note your call may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes. 

 

HINTS & TIPS FROM YOUR PLANNER 

  • HAVING CALLED THE NUMBER TO SAVE YOU TIME CHOOSE OPTION 1 FOR A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THEN OPTION 2 FOLLOWED BY OPTION 2 AGAIN AND THEN WAIT FOR AN OPERATOR.  

  • YOU WILL HEAR FROM THE RECORDED MESSAGE THAT DUE TO RECORDS THEY CANT PROVIDE A LETTER THAT COVERS THE LAST 18 MONTHS SO YOU WILL ALSO NEED THE STATUTORY DECLARATION / AFFIDAVIT BELOW YOU WILL FIND DETAILS ON HOW TO ARRANGE THIS. 

  • THIS LETTER OF NO TRACE IS ISSUED IN BLOCKS OF 10 YEARS, 

    • IF YOU ARE SINGLE AND HAVE NEVER BEEN MARRIED BEFORE THEN YOU MUST APPLY FOR THE BLOCK THAT COVERS FROM YOUR 18TH BIRTHDAY. ​

    • IF YOU HAVE BEEN MARRIED BEFORE, THEN THIS MUST BE APPLIED FOR FROM THE DATE OF YOUR DIVORCE. 

  • CLICK HERE TO VIEW A SAMPLE OF BOTH THE NO TRACE LETTER AND THE CNI 

 

CAN’T GET A NO TRACE LETTER THAT COVERS THE LAST 18 MONTHS THEN 

It appears that the GR office can't currently provide a no-trace letter that covers the last 18 months so you will need Statutory Declaration signed and stamped by a UK solicitor or Notary Public. This must also be apostille stamped by the UK GOV. 

 

Below are templates you can use, please use one each. DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE THE DATE ON THEM!

  • CLICK HERE for a standard template

  • CLICK HERE for a template if the bride has been married before and has reverted back to her maiden name

  • CLICK HERE for a template if either the bride or groom and has changed his or her name via deed poll 

NOTARY OR SOLICITOR? 

It can be a solicitor as long as they are registered with the legalisation office or it can be a notary.
You’ll find usually the solicitor is the cheaper option.

HAVE YOU BREEN MARRIED BEFORE?

I’ve been reading that many of you have been having issues getting the apostille stamp on your Decree Absolute due to it needing a “wet seal” So I’ve been chatting to Simon at MSC Solicitors and Notaries and he shared the follow advice.

Essentially if the decree is signed by someone at the court or has a red ink stamp of the court then, (called the wet seal) provided they submit the original to the FCO, they can get it apostillled directly.

If the decree has a black stamp/seal of the court (this is the case for most of them) then it will need to be certified/notarised by a notary before it can be apostillled.

Need help with your apostille stamp contact Simon and his team for a swift and efficient service.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TOWN HALL WILL KEEP YOUR DECREE ABSOLUTES SO IF YOU WANT TO KEEP A COPY THEN PLEASE ARRANGE TO TAKE A PHOTOCOPY BEFORE COMING TO CYPRUS. 

IF YOU HAVE BEEN MARRIED BEFORE AND REVERTED BACK TO YOUR BIRTH / MAIDEN NAME THEN PLEASE MAKE SURE THIS IS COVERED WHEN YOU DO YOUR STATUTORY DECLARATION - CLICK HERE for the template

HAVE CHANGED YOUR NAME BY DEED POLL BEFORE?

Rather than getting your original apostille stamped we suggest getting notarised true copy and getting this apostille stamped so you will always have your original. 

DO YOU LIVE OR WORK OVERSEAS?

  • The UK embassies will not currently issue a CNI (Certificate of non-Impediment) to another Commonwealth country,  so you will need to apply for this back in the UK, we suggest containing the local registry office from where you last resided to ask if they will issue this Certificate, maybe get a friend or family member to help with this, if it's issued then it will also need an APOSTILLE STAMP see below for help on how to get this.  If you have an issue getting this certificate please see the alternative below. 

  • OR 

  • A “No Trace Letter”  This Certificate can be applied for at the as above and once issued be sealed with an APOSTILLE. In the case that the No Trace Letter doesn’t cover the last 18 months, you will also need to supply a Statutory Declaration/Affidavit also. This certificate must be signed, certified, and dated by a UK practicing Solicitor or Notary Public please see the details above for www.mscnotaries.com, they can arrange for you to sign this via video call and return to them via courier sop they can notarise the signature, so you don't have to return to the UK, they can then also arrange this Statutory Declaration/Affidavit to be sealed with an APOSTILLE.

DO YOU LIVE OR WORK IN CYPRUS WITH EITHER A YELLOW OR PINK SLIP? IF SO CLICK HERE 

HOW AND WHERE TO GET THE APPOSTILE STAMP

 

OPTION 1
Apply directly to the UK gov this can take upto 4 weeks sometimes longer - the current cost is £30 per document https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised...this is taking approx 5 to 6 weeks with the current backlog.

 

OPTION 2
If you prefer to have some assistance with this and get the documents back much quicker we have found a specialist agent who can assist you. Please quote Tie the Knot Cyprus when contacting the agent so you get a special rate starting from €50 to £70 depending on how many documents you have to get stamped plus any courier fee’s

 

OPTION 3
If you prefer you can find a local agent who specialises in this service to help you with this. Companies such as https://www.hagueapostille.co.uk/

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