London Notary Service
Statutory Declaration of Freedom to Marry
Getting married abroad? You may need a sworn declaration confirming you are legally free to marry. Our London notary witnesses your declaration the same day â with an apostille arranged if required.
What Is a Statutory Declaration of Freedom to Marry?
A statutory declaration of freedom to marry is a formal sworn statement confirming that you are legally free to enter into marriage. You make this declaration before a notary public (or commissioner for oaths) under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. It is a criminal offence to make a false statement in a statutory declaration, so the document carries serious legal weight.
This type of declaration is one specific form of statutory declaration â others include declarations for name changes, lost documents, or property right of way. The core process is the same: you swear or affirm the truth of a written statement in the presence of an authorised witness. See our main statutory declaration form page for the general process and template.
Many countries require this declaration when a British citizen wishes to marry abroad. Some religious institutions within the UK also request one. The declaration typically confirms that you have never been married, or that a previous marriage has been legally dissolved by divorce or ended by the death of your spouse.
Why Do You Need a Freedom to Marry Declaration?
Foreign marriage registrars and celebrants need assurance that a British citizen is legally entitled to marry. Because the UK does not issue a single centralised “freedom to marry” certificate, many countries accept a statutory declaration sworn before a notary public as proof.
You will typically need this declaration if you are a British citizen marrying abroad and the destination country requires proof of single status, if you have been previously married and need to confirm your divorce is finalised, or if a religious institution in the UK requires formal confirmation before conducting a ceremony.
The key thing is to ask the celebrant or marriage registrar at your destination exactly what they require. Some countries accept a statutory declaration; others specifically require a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) issued by a register office. Getting this right early avoids delays to your wedding plans.
Do You Need an Apostille or Legalisation on Your Declaration?
Whether your statutory declaration needs an apostille or further legalisation depends entirely on the country where you are getting married. The short answer: ask the celebrant or marriage registrar at your destination, because requirements vary widely.
Hague Convention countries â apostille only
If you are marrying in a country that has signed the Hague Apostille Convention (which includes most of Europe, the USA, Australia, and many others), your declaration will need an FCDO apostille. This is a certificate issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office confirming the notary’s signature is genuine. We handle the entire apostille application for you â you do not need to visit the FCDO yourself. See our apostille service page for turnaround options.
Non-Hague countries â full legalisation
If the destination country has not signed the Hague Convention, your declaration may need full consular legalisation. This is a two-step process: FCDO authentication followed by legalisation at the relevant embassy or consulate in London. The process takes longer and the requirements vary by country. Visit our legalisation requirements page for country-specific guidance, or contact us and we will advise.
Not sure which applies to your destination?
Contact us with the name of the country and we will confirm exactly what authentication is needed for your freedom to marry declaration. In most cases we can arrange everything for you â notarisation, apostille, and legalisation â as a single fixed-fee service.
Request a Callback
Tell us about your wedding plans and we will confirm exactly what you need. No obligation â most enquiries answered within the hour.
How Does the Process Work?
Three simple steps â most clients are in and out within 20 minutes.
Book Your Appointment
Call us, email, or use the form above. We will confirm what documents to bring and book you in â often the same day.
Attend and Sign
Visit our Wigmore Street office. Our notary will verify your identity, witness your declaration, and seal the document.
Collect or Post
Take your sealed declaration with you, or we can post it. If you need an apostille, we handle the FCDO submission for you.
What Other Documents Might You Need for Marriage Abroad?
A statutory declaration of freedom to marry is often just one of several documents required. Depending on the country where you are getting married, you may also need:
- Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) â issued by a UK register office after you give notice of marriage. Some countries require this instead of a sworn declaration. See our CNI guide to understand the difference.
- Single status affidavit â a sworn statement similar in purpose to a freedom to marry declaration, but presented as an affidavit. We can prepare and witness this for you. Visit our affidavit page for details.
- Apostille on UK marriage documents â if you need a UK marriage certificate or decree absolute authenticated for use abroad, an FCDO apostille is usually required. See our apostille service for pricing and turnaround times.
- Certified copy of UK divorce decree â if remarrying, the destination country may require a notarised or apostilled copy of your decree absolute.
- Letter of No Trace â also called a “no trace letter”, this is issued by the General Register Office when no record of a previous marriage can be found. Some countries require this alongside a statutory declaration of freedom to marry, particularly if you were born outside the UK or have lived abroad.
Not sure which documents you need? Contact us and we will advise you based on your specific destination country. See also our Certificate of No Impediment guide if your destination requires a CNI instead of a statutory declaration.
Why Choose Edward Young Notaries?
- Regulated by the Faculty Office â our notary is authorised by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the regulatory body for notaries in England and Wales.
- Same-day appointments available â call before midday and we can often see you the same afternoon at our Wigmore Street office in Central London.
- Fixed fees with no hidden charges â our prices are published and agreed before your appointment. No surprises.
- Apostille and legalisation handled in-house â we manage the entire process from notarisation through to FCDO apostille and embassy legalisation.
- STEP-qualified â our principal holds the STEP qualification in trusts and estates, bringing additional expertise to cross-border family matters.
19 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PH â +44 20 7499 2605 | einfo@notarypubliclondon.co.uk | Google Reviews