Special circumstances

There may be cases where one or both parties have an urgent need to get married. This is typically in cases where one party is terminally ill. Upon informing medical staff of the decision, they should designate a lead contact who should contact their local Registrar of Births, Deaths and Ceremonies as the registrar there will need a point of contact. For a marriage to take place in a hospital or care home the medical team can either obtain a Registrar General's Licence or a Special Licence.

 

If the application is successful, both civil and religious ceremonies can take place in a location that's more suited to at least one of the party's medical conditions. Another option (if the patient can safely be moved to a place that already conducts marriages) would be to request that the typical (between 28 and 70 days) notice period be waivered, the medical staff can help provide reasoning behind this request. If the driving reason for marriage is to allow the passing of assets, then this could be managed through a standard will, one should not assume that marriage automatically confers asset transfer.

 

It is hoped that the medical staff will make the event as special as possible and allow space for the registrar to complete their duties and for the couple to sign their marriage register, if the wedding is a civil one it can later be blessed by the hospital chaplain (should the couple wish this). An Anglican Hospital Chaplain can solemnize a marriage in the hospital according to the rites of the Church of England on the authority of a Superintendent Registrar’s Certificate (Marriage Act 1983), however, the marriage certificate itself cannot be issued until 7 days after notice has been given to the Superintendent Registrar.

 

How we can help

Lestons can intervene and discuss options with you and hospital staff to resolve the matter, to do this we would need you to become a client by opening a case with us, simply click the link at the top of this page, activated by the link at the top of the page, should you wish to start a case the caseworker will send you the suitable payment link. Please note your caseworker can only give generic advice, their role is to prepare your details for handling by our legal team and to act as your point of contact, they will also issue you with your Password and PIN, these will be needed to log onto your client dashboard. From your dashboard you will be able to manage and view every aspect of your case, upload documents, images, files etc.