Since 5 December 2005, when the Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into operation, same-sex couples have been able to register as civil partners of each other. A civil partnership can be registered in England and Wales in a register office or approved premises. As with marriage, in order to register a civil partnership you must first give notice at the register office. These notices are then publicised by the registration authority for a period of 15 days.
A civil partnership notice states for each person:
- name and surname
- date of birth
- condition (marital or civil partnership status)
- occupation
- nationality
- place of formation
Once the 15 full days have elapsed, the civil partnership can be registered. Once given, the notice is valid for 12 months. The minimum legal age for registering a civil partnership in England and Wales is 16 years of age but written consent may be required for those under 18.
If you want to register your civil partnership at approved premises, rather than a register office, they come in all shapes and sizes, from castles and stately homes to hotels and restaurants, so there’s plenty of choice.
Once your civil partnership certificate has been recorded in the register you’ll receive your civil partnership certificate. There are two types of certificate:
- one shows all the details of the civil partnership including the addresses of the partners at the time the partnership was registered
- the other shows all the details of the civil partnership excluding the addresses of the partners at the time the partnership was registered
If at any time you require another copy, you can either apply direct to the General Register Office or to the registration authority where you registered your partnership. You’ll need to provide sufficient details of both civil partners to identify the record. If you’re applying for a certificate with addresses you must also provide the addresses of both civil partners as recorded at the time the partnership was registered.
