The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into force on 5 December 2005.
The formation of a civil partnership gives same sex couples the opportunity to have their partnership recognised legally. From the date of formation, the couple has the same rights as married couples in areas such as inheritance, tax pensions and so on.
How to arrange a venue for a civil partnership formation
The formation of your civil partnership can take place at any register office or approved premise in England or Wales.
To arrange for a formation to take place in a register office, please contact the Superintendent Registrar (SR) of the registration district in which you wish to hold the formation.
If you choose an approved premise, you should initially contact the proprietor of that venue to make a provisional booking. You should then immediately contact the SR of the district in which the venue is situated, to ensure registration staff are available to officiate.
The next step - the legal preliminaries
Before your civil partnership can take place, you are required legally to each give a 'Notice of Intent' to the SR of the district in which you live. This takes the form of an interview and you will be required to produce certain documents at this point to prove your nationality and status.
You must each have lived in that district for a minimum of seven days before a notice can be given.
You may give notice no sooner than 12 months before you wish to form your civil partnership and no later than 15 clear days before that date.
Once your notice has been given, the details are displayed on a public notice board for 15 days. The SR will then issue a schedule which authorises your civil partnership to take place at any time from that date until a year from the date of giving notice.
Documents required when giving notice
You must bring with you the following:
- current valid passport*
- birth certificate
- original decree absolute (if divorced)
- deather certificate of previous spouse (if widowed)
- change of name dee (if name has been changed legally)
- proof of residence (for instance driving licence or bill )
- current notice fee
If either party is under the age of 18 years, a consent form will be required. Please contact the SR for advice before arranging to give notice.
* If you are not a British Citizen and subject to immigration control, you can only give notice at a designated register office.
The nearest designated offices are at Lincoln (tel 01522 782244) and Hull (tel 01482 615401). Please telephone them for advice before arranging to give notice.
Civil partnership information
The date of your formation can be arranged in advance. The legal requirements are purely that you sign the schedule in the presence of two witnesses.
You may, however, wish to have a ceremony to complement your civil partnership formation. North Lincolnshire register office has a booklet with four ceremony choices, or you may provide your own alternative words. Working within the guidelines provided, couples can select words, readings and poems that hold a special meaning to them. They may choose a role for friends or family within the ceremony. This makes the occasion a meaningful, shared experience.
The ceremonies will be secular and contain no religious references. A celebrant will work closely with the couple to create an individual ceremony.
Fees
A fee of £30 each is payable when giving a notice.
Civil partnership formation fees
Register office
Approved premises
- Monday- Thursday - £203.50
- Friday - £243.50
- Saturday - £253.50
- Sunday - £323.50
- Bank holiday - £323.50
All the above fees include one certificate.
Please contact the Superintendent Registrar at North Lincolnshire Register Office for further details or to make a booking on 01724 843915.