Birth, marriage, civil partnership, citizenship and death

Any death that takes place in Scotland must be registered within 8 days of the date of death. You can register the death with any registrar in Scotland.

A burial or cremation cannot take place until the death has been registered. 

If the person has died outside of Scotland, their death needs to be registered in that country.

There is a separate process for registering a stillbirth.

If it’s an emergency death registration

If you need to make an emergency death registration, phone us on 07971 158 453 outside normal working hours only if:

• the burial is taking place within 24 hours
• the deceased is being removed from the country for burial (repatriation).

You can register a death if you:

• are aged 16 years or older
• are related to the person who died
• were there when they died
• are the occupier of the place where they died or you lived with the person if they died at home
• are an executor or other legal representative of the person who died.

If you do not meet one of the criteria above and there is no one else to register the death, then you can register it providing you have the details of the person who died and the required documents. 

It will help if you can tell us the:

• name, occupation, address, date, and country of birth of the person who has died
• name, date of birth, and occupation of their spouse or civil partner (if applicable)
• names and occupation of their parents, including their mother's maiden surname
• name and address of their GP.

We’ll also need these documents, if you have them:

• a birth certificate of the person who has died
• an NHS medical card (if available)
• a marriage or civil partnership certificate (if applicable).

We can still register a death, even if we only have a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD).

The doctor will issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). 

They’ll also take your contact details and ask which registration office you wish to deal with. 

They’ll send the certificate and your details to the registrar.

Once we’ve received the certificate, we'll contact you by phone to start the registration. 

You do not need to book an appointment or come to a registration office in person.

Death certification reviews

A random number of Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCD) are selected for review by the Death Certification Review Service (DCRS).

This is to check the quality and accuracy of the death certificate, record public health information about causes of death in Scotland, and to improve the death registration service. 

If your death registration is selected for review

If the death you are registering is selected for review, you may not be able to register it straight away. We’ll let you know if it has been selected, how long it should take. We’ll contact you when it is complete. 

You can begin to make the funeral arrangements while the review is happening.

However, the funeral cannot take place until the review is completed, and you get a Certificate of Registration of Death (Form 14).

Advance registration

Under special circumstances, a funeral can go ahead before the review of the MCCD is complete. This is called advance registration. 

You can find out more about applying for advance registration on the Healthcare Improvement Scotland website.

We’ll give you:

• an abbreviated death certificate
• a certificate of registration of death (Form 14) – we’ll email this to your chosen funeral director so the burial or cremation can go ahead
• a unique reference number for the Tell Us Once service - this lets you report a death to most government organisations in one step.

There is no cost for these documents.

Full death certificates are available for £10 each, if you need them. We can take payment for it when the registration is taking place.

If you don’t get one at the time of registration, you can order a full death certificate at a later date. 

It costs £15 for a full death certificate if you order it more than 4 weeks after the date of registration.

How to order a death certificate.

When the death has been registered

If the person who died was 18 or over, we’ll notify the relevant council tax or electoral registration authority.

If they were a sole council tenant in Renfrewshire, you can arrange to end their council tenancy.

You may need practical advice about what to do when someone dies. to help you manage.

You can get practical advice from a funeral director, your family doctor, a solicitor, your local social work department or Citizens Advice Bureau. 

See:

• arranging a funeral
• what to do after a death in Scotland (GOV.SCOT)
• practical advice after a death (NHS Inform).

Support with death and bereavement

Renfrewshire Bereavement Network

Planning a funeral

You can plan for a funeral yourself, but most people go to a funeral director (or undertaker) who can give advice on all aspects of a funeral service. They can make the arrangements for you, including the burial or cremation.

If you wish to have a religious funeral service, contact the relevant minister of religion as soon as possible. If you do not know one, ask your funeral director – they may be able to arrange for one to officiate at the service. 

Paying for a funeral

Make sure you’re aware of the funeral costs before finalising arrangements. This will include the costs for a burial or a cremation. 

If the person is to be buried, you may need to pay for a plot (called a lair) in a cemetery, if they did not own one already.

Find out about:

• arranging a burial and how much it costs
• costs for cemeteries including lairs and interment.

Your funeral director can advise you on the cost of a cremation if that’s what you wish.

Check if the person who died had a pre-paid funeral plan or insurance to cover the funeral costs. 

Otherwise, the cost of the funeral can be paid from money in their estate. This usually takes priority over any other debts or payments they had. 

You can get help from their bank manager or a solicitor about accessing any accounts or funds they had to pay for the funeral. 

Help with the costs of a funeral

If you or family or friends are paying for some or all of the funeral, you may be able to get help with the costs.

You may be able to get Funeral Support Payment or financial support from a benevolent fund.

Other sources of money to help pay for a funeral might include an insurance policy, a tax refund, a cash sum, pension, or war pension.

Funeral Support Payment

The Scottish Government has a benefit called Funeral Support Payment.

This helps pay for funeral costs if you live in Scotland. 

You can use the payment towards funeral costs for a baby, child, or adult. This includes babies who were stillborn.

It usually does not cover the full cost of the funeral, but it can help pay for some costs. It can be paid either to you or the funeral director who's helping you arrange the funeral.

Only 1 person can get Funeral Support Payment for the funeral.

You will not be eligible if you've already had other government support for the funeral, which includes:

• Funeral Expenses Payment (England or Wales)
• Funeral Payment (Northern Ireland)
• your hospital arranging and paying for your baby's funeral if you had a stillbirth.

Find out about Funeral Support Payment (mygov.scot website).

Our Advice Works team can help you with applying for Funeral Support Payment or other benefits you are entitled to claim.

Benevolent funds

Benevolent funds are charitable funds, trusts, and societies established by trades, professions, religious institutes, armed or civilian services, charities or members of local communities.

Depending on where you or your family members work, or have worked in the past, you may be able to get help towards the costs of arranging a funeral from specific benevolent funds. You should contact your workplace or the workplace of the deceased person to see if they can help.

Estates of the deceased

We do not hold any information on the value of the estate of a deceased person.

We do not trace relatives of the deceased, and we do not work with any genealogists.  

If no blood relative, spouse, civil partner or cohabitant are traced, the National Ultimus Haeres Unit (NUHU) will investigate if the estate has any value after any liabilities, like debts or money owed, have been taken away.

Funerals for deceased with no family

If a person dies and has no traceable relatives or executor, we may arrange their funeral. 

This is only if the person has died in Renfrewshire and no one else is arranging the funeral.

If the person died outside of Renfrewshire, you should contact the council where they died.

The arrangements we provide will only be for a simple, dignified, basic funeral. No funeral notices, service, flowers, or funeral cars are provided. We make the arrangements and use an undertaker appointed by us.

The funeral costs will be recovered from the deceased person’s estate and are usually paid before any other debts.

Funerals arranged by Renfrewshire council

You can only arrange a funeral once the death has been registered.

First, check whether the person had a will, a pre-paid funeral plan, or a record of their wishes before contacting a funeral director or making any arrangements.

These documents may be in the deceased person’s home, with relatives, a solicitor, or a bank.

If you do not know their wishes, ask family or friends, or get advice from the funeral director or person who will conduct the service.

Find advice about arranging a funeral (mygov.scot website).

At a citizenship ceremony you make an oath of allegiance (swear by God) or affirmation of allegiance.

This is to promise to respect the rights, freedoms, and laws of the UK.

Find out more about British citizenship (GOV.UK website).

If you’re over 18 and your application for British citizenship has been successful, you must book to attend a British citizenship ceremony.

You must attend a British citizenship ceremony within 3 months of receiving your invitation letter, otherwise you’ll have to re-apply for citizenship and pay the application fees again.

The Home Office will not refund the fee if your application is later refused or withdrawn.

The Provost or Deputy Provost attends the citizenship ceremony along with the elected members (local Councillors) from the electoral wards that the new citizens live in.

At the ceremony, new citizens make an oath of allegiance or an affirmation of allegiance.

The registrar then asks the whole group to make the Pledge of Loyalty.

You are then presented with your certificate of naturalisation as a British citizen.

In Renfrewshire, the citizenship ceremonies are held on the last Wednesday of every month in the Paisley Marriage Suite at Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley.

You can invite up to 4 guests to attend your citizenship ceremony.

You’ll need to give us: 

• your phone number
• the first name and surname of the guests that you would like to invite
• a copy of the citizenship invitation letter that you received from the Home Office.

When you receive your invitation letter from the Home Office, phone us to book your citizenship ceremony.

We present all our new British citizens with a small commemorative coin in a presentation box.

You’ll also receive a citizenship folder from the Home Office, which contains: 

• a welcome letter from the Home Secretary
• notes on applying for a British Passport. 

We’ll also provide you with information on registering on the electoral roll so you can vote in elections.

The cost to attend a citizenship ceremony is included in your British citizenship application fee.

A naming ceremony is an opportunity for parents or carers to announce the names that have been chosen for their child or children in the presence of family and friends.

At the ceremony, parents make promises of commitment to the child.

Friends, grandparents, or relatives chosen by the parents take part in the naming ceremony as 'supporting adults', and they pledge a special relationship with the child or children. 

It’s not a religious ceremony.

Naming ceremonies are for children of any age.

Any parent or person who has parental responsibilities for a child or children can arrange a naming ceremony.

Naming ceremonies are not the same as registering a child's birth.
 

In Renfrewshire, you can have an official naming ceremony at:

• Paisley Marriage Suite at Renfrewshire House
• Johnstone Registry Office
• Paisley Town Hall, Renfrew Town Hall and Johnstone Town Hall
• another venue with a registrar.

Ceremonies at Paisley Town Hall, Renfrew Town Hall, and Johnstone Town Hall are managed by OneRen. 

Find out more about these venues on the OneRen website.
 

Personalizing your ceremony

The naming ceremony is put together by the parents or carers. It can include readings, music or poems that do not contain religious elements.

The registrar service can give advice on the format of the ceremony, so you can create a unique and special event.

Our baby naming ceremony booklet offers some suggestions which you may choose to include in your ceremony. 
 

It has a selection of readings and poems and a variety of promises which can be made by parents, supporting adults, guardians, and grandparents in addition to other suggestions which you may like to include in the ceremony.

These are only given as examples of material that can be included in your ceremony. You are free to bring along your own material and make your own suggestions for the ceremony.

You can book a naming ceremony up to one year in advance. You’ll need to pay a £55 deposit when you book it.

You’ll need to produce the birth certificates of the child or children when you book the naming ceremony.  

Phone us to book a naming ceremony.

We’ll arrange an appointment with a registrar where you can: 

• book a naming ceremony
• discuss your requirements
• pay the remaining balance.

You’ll also need to bring the birth certificates to your meeting with the registrar before the naming ceremony.

After your naming ceremony, you’ll receive a ceremonial pack. 

This includes a naming ceremony certificate and a copy of the ceremony speech in a presentation wallet.

The naming ceremony fees vary depending on the venue you choose.

Naming ceremony at a registration office from Monday to Friday (during office hours):

• naming ceremony pack: £40
• conduct of ceremony: £55
• accommodation fee (Monday to Friday): £76

The total cost is £165.

Naming ceremony at a registration office on a Saturday:

• naming ceremony pack: £40
• conduct of ceremony: £55
• accommodation fee (Saturday supplement): £213

The total cost is £308.

Naming ceremony at Paisley Town Hall from Monday to Friday:

• naming ceremony pack: £40
• conduct of ceremony: £55
• accommodation fee (Monday to Friday): £76

The total cost is £165.

Naming ceremony at another venue from Monday to Friday (during office hours):

• naming ceremony pack: £40
• conduct of ceremony: £55
• administration fee (Monday to Friday): £155

The total cost is £250.

Naming ceremony at another venue on a Saturday:

• naming ceremony pack: £40
• conduct of ceremony: £55
• administration fee: £259

The total cost is £354.

Naming ceremony at another venue on a Sunday or Public holiday:

• naming ceremony pack: £40
• conduct of ceremony: £55
• administration fee: £341

The total cost is £436.

You can apply to the National Records of Scotland to change your first names (forenames) or surname or change the names of a child you have parental responsibility for. 

People under 16 can only have:

• one forename change
• one surname change.

People over 16 can only have:

• one forename change
• up to 3 surname changes, with a gap of at least 5 years between each.

You can change a name if you or the person you’re applying for:

• was born in Scotland
• was legally adopted in Scotland
• has a parental order granted in Scotland.

For children under 16

A change of name for child under 16 years can only be done by:

• a parent who has sole parental responsibilities for the child
• both parents when both have parental responsibilities for the child
• another person who has responsibilities for the child when neither parent does.

If you are over 16 years of age, you can apply or a change to your forename or surname yourself.

Marriage, civil partnership, or divorce

You do not need to apply to change your name following a marriage, civil partnership, or divorce.

Gender recognition

If you’ve applied for gender recognition in Scotland and want to change your name, the National Records of Scotland will register your new name.

See more information about gender recognition (National Records of Scotland website).

For people born outside of Scotland

There is a different process to change your name if you were born outside of Scotland (National Records of Scotland website).

You’ll need to complete the relevant form if the name change is for a:

• child under 12 months old
• child over 12 months old and under 16 years old
• person over 16 years old.

You’ll also need to provide an email address so the National Records of Scotland can contact you.

Parental responsibilities

If a court made an order to give or remove from any person parental responsibilities and rights for the child, you’ll need to include a copy of the court order with your application.

If a Parental Responsibilities and Parental Rights Agreement been made, you’ll need to include a copy of the agreement with your application.

You’ll need to complete the relevant form and send it to the National Records of Scotland. 

You can only apply by post. National Records of Scotland does not accept digital applications. 
If the child is under 12 months of age, complete either an:

• application for recording or changing their forename (Form 21)
• application for recording a change to their surname (Form 23).

If the person is over 12 months of age and under 16 years, complete an application for recording a change their forename, surname, or both (Form 23).

If the person is over 16 years, complete an application for recording a change to their forename or surname (Form 24).

Complete and sign the documents in ink and send the application form to the Change of Name Team at:

The National Records of Scotland will contact you by email about your application. They aim to email you within 20 days of receiving your application.

Recording a change of name

The cost for recording a change of name is £40.

For family applications where multiple people are changing their names at once, the fees are:

• £40 for the first family member
• £10 for every other family member applied for at the same time.

Ordering a birth certificate

You do not automatically get a replacement birth certificate.

When you apply for a change of name, the National Records of Scotland will explain how to get a new birth certificate. 

Once the change of name has been recorded, you can purchase a new certificate. This will show your new name and your previous name.

If you plan on getting married abroad, there are certain documents you’ll need, depending on if you are a resident of Scotland or not. 

Contact the consulate or embassy for the relevant country and ask what documentation they need for you to get married there. This will vary from country to country.

You may need a Certificate of No Impediment (CONI). This document is proof there's no reason you cannot get married or have a civil partnership.

If you live in Renfrewshire

If you live in Renfrewshire, you can request a Certificate of No Impediment (CONI) from us.

If you do not live in Renfrewshire

If you do not live in Renfrewshire, you cannot get a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CONI) from us.

If your residence is in another part of Scotland, you’ll need to contact the registrar in that area to ask them for a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CONI).

If you’re not eligible for a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CONI)

If the country where you want to wed needs evidence you are free to marry, the General Register Office for Scotland can provide you with a 'To Whom it May Concern' letter.

This letter will say a search has been made and no trace of a marriage or civil partnership involving you has been found. 

They will need different information from you depending on your circumstances.

The letter can also be provided for other purposes, for example, going to live in another country. 

You can find out more about using Scottish registration documents abroad on the National Records for Scotland website.

To request a Certificate of No Impediment (CONI) you’ll need to send us:

• a completed marriage notice form (M10) or a civil partnership notice form (CP10)
• your birth certificate or adoption certificate
• a valid passport or other evidence of your nationality
• a utility bill or other proof of residence
• a decree of divorce, dissolution or annulment (if it applies)
• a death certificate of your former spouse or civil partner (if it applies)

If your partner lives abroad, we’ll also need their:

• full name
• date of birth
• address.

We’ll issue a Certificate of No Impediment (CONI) 29 days after you’ve submitted your marriage or civil partnership notices and paid the notice fees of £90.

A Certificate of No Impediment (CONI) is valid for 3 months from the:

• date of issue if you are being married or having a civil partnership abroad
• date we receive your notice if you are being married in England or Wales.

Religious and belief-based marriages

If you’re having a religious or belief-based marriage, you’ll need to pay for:

• a marriage certificate for £10
• 2 marriage notices at £45 each

This is a total of £100.

You can pay the full amount when you have your appointment to give notice.

Civil ceremonies at the Paisley Marriage Suite

You can have a civil marriage or civil partnership ceremony at Paisley Marriage Suite on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. This includes an accommodation fee for the venue.

On a Thursday or Friday, without guests

A civil ceremony on a Thursday or Friday, without guests:

• a marriage or civil partnership certificate £10
• 2 marriage or civil partnership notices £45 each
• registration fee of £55

This is a total of £155. 

You’ll need to pay a £55 deposit when you contact us and pay the remaining amount when you have your appointment to give notice.

On a Thursday or Friday, with guests

Civil ceremony on a Thursday or Friday, with guests:

• a marriage or civil partnership certificate £10
• 2 marriage or civil partnership notices £45 each
• registration fee £55
• accommodation fee £76

This is a total of £231. 

You’ll need to pay a £55 deposit when you contact us and pay the remaining amount when you have your appointment to give notice.

On a Saturday, with or without guests:

Civil ceremony on a Saturday, with or without guests:

• a marriage or civil partnership certificate £10
• 2 marriage or civil partnership notices £45 each
• registration fee £55
• accommodation fee £76
• Saturday supplement £123

This is a total of £354. 

You’ll need to pay a £55 deposit when you contact us and pay the remaining amount when you have your appointment to give notice.

Civil ceremonies at another venue

You can have a civil ceremony with a registrar at another venue, on your chosen day of the week. This includes an administration fee for the registrar attending the venue. 

On a Thursday or Friday

Civil ceremony on a Thursday or Friday:

• a marriage or civil partnership certificate £10
• 2 marriage or civil partnership notices £45 each
• registration fee of £55
• administration fee £175 

This is a total of £330. 

You’ll need to pay a £55 deposit when you contact us and pay the remaining amount when you have your appointment to give notice.

On a Saturday

Civil ceremony on a Saturday:

• a marriage or civil partnership certificate £10
• 2 marriage or civil partnership notices £45 each
• registration fee of £55
• administration fee £292

This is a total of £447. 

You’ll need to pay a £55 deposit when you contact us and pay the remaining amount when you have your appointment to give notice.

On a Sundays or public holiday

Civil ceremony on a Sunday or public holiday:

• a marriage or civil partnership certificate £10
• 2 marriage or civil partnership notices £45 each
• registration fee of £55
• administration fee £384

This is a total of £539. You’ll need to pay a £55 deposit when you contact us and pay the remaining amount when you have your appointment to give notice.

Civil partnership signing

You can have a civil partnership signing without a ceremony. You can do this at any registration office in Renfrewshire.

Civil partnership signing on a Thursday or Friday:

• a civil partnership certificate £10
• 2 civil partnership notices £45 each
• registration fee of £55

This is a total of £155.

You’ll need to pay a £55 deposit when you contact us and pay the remaining amount when you have your appointment to give notice.

Civil partnership signing on a Saturday:

• a civil partnership certificate £10
• 2 civil partnership notices £45 each
• registration fee £55
• accommodation fee £76
• Saturday supplement £123

This is a total of £354. 

You’ll need to pay a £55 deposit when you contact us and the remaining amount when you have your appointment to give notice.

How much the fees are will depend on the kind of ceremony you have, where it is, when it’s on, and if you have guests attending.

For any marriage or civil partnership, you need to pay a total of £55:

• £10 for a certificate
• £45 each for 2 notices.

If you’re having a civil marriage or civil partnership ceremony, you’ll also need to pay a £55 registration fee for ceremonies conducted by a registrar at any venue. 

This is non-refundable.

There are additional costs if your wedding is on a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday, or if you have guests attending.

Register your marriage or civil partnership (give notice).

For all marriages and civil partnerships, you need to register to marry or form a civil partnership. 

This is called ‘giving notice’. 

You’ll need 2 marriage or civil partnership notices. They are legally required to give notice of your intention to marry or form a civil partnership.

They are displayed at the reception in Renfrewshire House from the date a couple gives notice until the date of the ceremony itself. This is for the public to view in case of any objections.

By law, you will need 2 witnesses, both who must be aged 16 years or over.

You need to make an appointment to give us your forms and documents before your registration or ceremony.

You must do this:

• no earlier than 3 months before the ceremony or registration
• no later than 29 days before the ceremony or registration.

Both of you must complete a:

• M10 marriage notice form if you’re getting married
• CP10 civil partnership notice form if you’re registering a civil partnership.

We’ll also need details about your witnesses and information about your ceremony if it’s being conducted by one of our registrars.

What you need to bring with you

At your appointment to give notice, both of you need to bring:

• your birth certificate or adoption certificate
• a valid passport or other evidence of your nationality
• a utility bill or other proof of residence. dated within the last 3 months or a Council Tax bill for the current year)

If you are British and born before 1983, you do not need to provide a passport. 

If you do not have a passport, you need to provide your mother's or father's birth certificate.

How to order a birth certificate.

Your documents

All documents must be originals. 

If you are waiting for any of these documents, give notice first and then give the documents to the registrar as early as possible (no later than 7 days before your ceremony).

If your documents are not in English, you must provide a certified translation of them.

If you're not a UK citizen

If one or both of you are not UK citizens, you need to complete a declaration of status by non-UK nationals form.

If you were divorced or separated outside the UK

If you were divorced or your separation was legally granted outside of the UK, you must complete either a:

• foreign divorce questionnaire if you were previously married
• foreign dissolution or annulment questionnaire if you were previously in a civil partnership.

We’ll also need a phone number and email address so we can contact you.

Phone us on 0300 300 0310 to register your marriage or civil partnership, whether your ceremony is at a registration office, a religious venue, or another location in Renfrewshire. 

We’ll take you through the process of arranging it. 

This does not include public holidays.

When you have submitted all the required forms and documents, we’ll:

• publish the marriage or civil partnership notices
• prepare the marriage or civil partnership schedule.

Once this is done, the marriage or civil partnership can go ahead.

The marriage / civil partnership schedule

When the registrar is satisfied that there is no legal reason to stop the marriage or civil partnership going ahead, they’ll prepare a marriage or civil partnership schedule from the information you have given them. 

The schedule is the most important document, and no marriage or civil partnership can proceed without it. 

It confirms the details of the marriage or civil partnership, including the place; date; couple’s, parents’ and celebrant’s details.

Civil marriage or civil partnership ceremony

If you’re having a civil ceremony, the registrar will keep the schedule and have it ready for signing at your wedding.

Religious and belief-based marriage

If you are having a religious or beliefs-based marriage, the registrar will let you know when you can come to the registration office to collect the schedule.

The schedule cannot be:

• issued more than 7 days before the marriage
• collected on your behalf by a relative or friend. 

The registrar will only give it to either one of the couple getting married.

Before the ceremony, you must provide the marriage schedule to the person performing the marriage.

After the ceremony

Immediately after the ceremony, the schedule must be signed in permanent black ink using a fountain pen by the:

• couple
• person performing the ceremony
• 2 witnesses.

If you’ve had a religious ceremony, you must return the signed marriage schedule to the registrar within 3 days of the ceremony so the marriage can be registered.

For all marriages and civil partnerships, the registrar will register it and post a marriage certificate to you.

You can order a copy or replacement of your marriage or civil partnership certificate online if you need one.

Contact us if you have any other questions about registering a marriage or civil partnership, or need help with booking a ceremony: 

How much the fees are will depend on the type of ceremony, where it is, what day  it’s on, and if you have guests attending.

See the fees for marriages and civil partnerships.

Religious marriages

A religious marriage, which includes any belief system, can take place anywhere in Scotland.

Civil marriage or civil partnership

In Renfrewshire, you can have a civil marriage or civil partnership at:

• Paisley Marriage Suite in Renfrewshire House
• Johnstone Registry Office
• Paisley Town Hall, Renfrew Town Hall and Johnstone Town Hall
• another venue with a registrar.

Our marriage suites

Paisley Marriage Suite at Renfrewshire House

Civil marriages and civil partnerships can take place on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday at the Paisley Marriage Suite.

The Paisley Marriage Suite at Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, can accommodate up to 64 people, including the wedding party. 

If you would like to have your ceremony there, you can arrange to see the marriage suite before your ceremony.

Paisley Marriage Suite

Johnstone Marriage Suite

Civil marriages and civil partnerships can take place on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday at the Johnstone Marriage Suite.

If you would like to have your ceremony there, you can arrange to see the registry office before your ceremony.

What we provide at our registration offices

We provide music and silk flowers at the Paisley Marriage Suite or Johnstone Registry Office, but you can personalise your ceremony to include your own vows, music, poems, or readings. 

If you want your own personal touches, let us know if you have any special requests when you have your appointment to give notice before the ceremony.

If you want to take photos or record the ceremony, you’ll need to arrange your own photographers or video recording.
If you’re having a civil partnership signing with no ceremony, you can take photos at the venue after the signing if you wish.

Paisley Town Hall, Renfrew Town Hall, and Johnstone Town Hall

Weddings and ceremonies at these venues are managed by OneRen.

Find out about these wedding venues on the OneRen website.

Other venues in Renfrewshire

You can have a civil ceremony with a registrar Mondays to Sundays at another venue of your choice in Renfrewshire.

Contact us first so we can let you know if the venue is suitable and available for your ceremony.  

You should check with the venue what wedding details they provide or what you can arrange yourself. 

Give notice

Whether you have a civil or religious wedding, you’ll need to register your marriage or civil partnership first. This is called ‘giving notice’.

Find out what you need to do before you get married or form a civil partnership.

You can have a religious ceremony anywhere in Scotland, or a civil marriage or a civil ceremony at a registration office or other venues in Renfrewshire.

Religious marriage

A religious marriage, which includes any belief system, can take place anywhere in Scotland.

It can only be performed by a minister, clergyman, pastor, priest, or other person entitled to do so under the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977. 

Civil marriage and civil partnership

A civil marriage or civil partnership can take place at a registry office or at another venue with a registrar.
It can only be conducted by an authorised registrar or assistant registrar. 

It cannot be a religious or beliefs-based ceremony. 

Civil partnership signing 

You can register a civil partnership with no ceremony at either of our registration offices. 

You’ll still need to book the signing, give notice, and pay the registration fees.

You can take photos at the venue after the signing if you wish.

You can have a:

• religious marriage
• civil marriage or civil partnership.

For all marriages and civil partnerships, you need to book an appointment to register your marriage or civil partnership.

This is called ‘giving notice’.