From 5th November 2007, the marriage provisions of the Civil Registration Act, 2004 commenced and replaces the previous marriage legislation in the Republic of Ireland.

The main changes resulting from this are be as follows:-

• The notification of intention to marry (three months’ notice) will have to be given in person to a Registrar, rather than by post; postal notifications will be permitted only in very restricted circumstances which will be prescribed by the Minister
• All couples giving notification after the above date must sign declarations of no impediment and obtain a Marriage Registration Form (MRF) from a Registrar in advance of the ceremony; this will be issued after they have completed the necessary notification procedures and the Registrar is satisfied they are free to marry
• A Register of Solemnisers of Marriage will be created and maintained by the General Register Office. All those solemnising a civil or religious marriage after the above date must be on this Register
• It will be possible for civil marriages after the above date to be held at venues other than Registry Offices, provided the venue has been inspected and approved by the HSE in advance of the marriage ceremony and subject to a Registrar being available to solemnise a marriage at that venue on the date in question
• The residency requirements for civil marriages will be removed

All the current marriage legislation, requirements and procedures will remain in place until November 2007. Notices of intention to marry before that date will continue to be received by post. Couples who intend having Roman Catholic marriages after that date, but give notification before that date, do not need to attend with a Registrar or be issued with a MRF. Couples who intend to have civil or non-Roman Catholic ceremonies on or after the commencement of the new provisions will need to be issued with MRF’s and Registrars will be contacting these couples to make the necessary arrangements for this.

(Extract from website of the General Registrar's Office www.groireland.ie)