Civil partnerships: the day
This is your day, so what happens is largely up to you. You can decide on the kind of ceremony you want, although the process is entirely secular. So how do you register and how much will it cost you?
Religious services aren't allowed to take place during a civil partnership registration. However, couples can have a blessing in a church from a gay-friendly vicar, just as straight couples who have had a civil wedding can.
You can also choose a set of words, music, poetry readings and anything else to make your ceremony perfect. The only requirement for the day is that you and your partner provide your signatures and bring along two witnesses.
Giving notice
Before the party starts you must first give notice of your intention to enter a civil partnership. To do this in England or Wales, both of you must have lived in a registration district for at least seven days immediately before giving notice. In Scotland and Northern Ireland you can register by post and you don't have to attend the registration office in person. You must also do the following:
- Provide evidence of your names, addresses, ages and nationalities. If you've been married or registered before, you'll need proof that you're now free to register a civil partnership;
- Show your certificate of approval to the registrar. To apply for a certificate of approval in the UK, you must complete an application form. If you plan to register in Scotland or Northern Ireland by post, you should photocopy the sticker in your passport and send this to the registrar along with your notice papers.
For full details, contact the General Register Office if you're in England or Wales; the General Register Office for Scotland if you're in Scotland; or the General Register Office for Northern Ireland if you're in Northern Ireland.
All registration offices in Scotland and Northern Ireland are designated for registering civil partnerships and 76 offices in England and Wales are designated. For a list of the 76 offices in England and Wales, contact the General Register Office.
Please note: if you're subject to immigration controls you must apply for entry clearance granted expressly for the purpose of registering a civil partnership in the UK. You must then give notice of your intention to register a civil partnership at a designated office.
Counting the cost
- Giving notice - the cost of registering your partnership is £30 per person.
- Registering at a register office will cost you £43.50.
- Registering on approved premise - the cost will be set by the registration authority in question. A further charge is likely to be charged for use of the premises.
Choosing the venue
When you give notice you'll also have to provide details of where you intend to register your civil partnership (i.e. where your ceremony will take place). This is where the fun begins, as you can choose to carry out this process in a wide range of venues that have been approved for the registration of civil partnerships. This includes registry offices, stately homes, hotels, restaurants, mountain tops and many other great locations.
To search for an approved location, contact the General Register Office in your part of the UK.
Your certificate
You will receive your civil partnership certificate after your partnership has been recorded in the register. There are two types of certificate: one that includes the addresses of the partners at the time of registration, and one without addresses.
If your certificate needs to be legalised for use in another country, you can obtain an Apostille from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This is a stamp or letter requested by certain overseas authorities to authenticate a document as genuine and legal for use in the country in question.
Registering a civil partnership abroad
If you'd like to register your civil partnership abroad you should contact the Embassy or High Commission of the country concerned to make relevant enquiries.
Couples who have registered a same-sex partnership abroad will automatically be recognised in the UK and will not need to be re-registered, as long as they meet certain conditions listed under the Civil Partnership Act 2004.
Thanks to Citizens Advice Bureau for help with this article.
Written by Matt Whyman
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