Civil Partnerships
Along with all the arrangements for your big day, there are a number of formalities that must be completed before you can enter into a civil partnership, which are outlined below.
You may also wish to read our frequently asked questions about marriages and civil ceremonies.
Who can form a civil partnership?
Two people can form a civil partnership if:
- They are of the same sex
- Neither are already married or in a civil partnership with someone else
- They are over the age of 16 (if they are under 18 they will require parental consent)
- They are not closely related to one another
How do I give notice?
Each of the couple will need to give notice of civil partnership to the registration authority in which they live.
Couples must allow 15 full days between giving notice and forming a partnership. This is known as the 15 Notice period. Notices will be displayed publicly in the usual way except that addresses will not be displayed.
Once the 15 day period has passed, no objections have been made and provided there is no lawful impediment to the marriage, the registration authority where the formation of the civil partnership is to take place will issue the authority for the forming of the partnership.
What documents do I need to bring?
You will need an official document to confirm your name, age, marital status, nationality and address, such as a passport or birth certificate.
Also required:
- If you have been widowed, the death certificate of your former spouse
- If you are divorced, a decree absolute bearing the court's original stamp
- Deed Poll documents if you have changed your name
- A completed parental consent form if you are under 18 years of age
What if I am not from the UK?
If you or your partner are subject to immigration control, you need to give notice of a marriage or civil partnership.
You can do this at one of the 76 designated register offices in England and Wales. You must attend the register office together. Hackney Register Office is a designated register office.
You will be asked for documentary evidence for some information, for example your nationality, so you will need to take your passport. You will also need evidence of the ending of any previous marriage or civil partnership.
If you want to come to the UK to marry or register a civil partnership, you will need to get the correct entry clearance. You will need this before you travel to the UK.
You are not subject to immigration control if you have the right of abode in the UK, or are one of the following -
- a British citizen
- an EEA national - see below for list of EEA countries
- a member of visiting forces from NATO and Commonwealth countries
- a diplomat that is not subject to immigration control
EEA Countries
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland*, United Kingdom
*Switzerland is not an EEA country but Swiss nationals have the same free movement as EEA nationals
How is a civil partnership formed?
Civil partnerships are formed by the signing of a civil partnership schedule. There will be a form of words similar to the words of declaration and contract spoken during a marriage ceremony, which will need to be acknowledged by the couple. Couples will need to ensure they have with them a minimum of two people to act as witnesses. Each ceremony will be tailored according to each couples needs and wishes. However no religious words, music or images may be used whilst the registrar is officiating.
Special procedures will be in place (as with marriages) to allow civil partnerships to be formed where a person is housebound, detained or ill and unlikely to recover. The 15 day notice period may also be waived in exceptional circumstances and with the authority of the Registrar General.
Where can civil partnerships be formed?
Civil partnership formations may take place in register offices and approved premises only, but couples do not have to form their partnerships where they attested their notices. Partnerships can only be formed between the hours of 8am and 6pm.
If you would like to book your civil partnership formation at Hackney please contact us using the details below.
How much will it cost?
You will each be charged a fee of £33.50 when you give notice. Current fees and the capacity of each venue can be found on the Downloads section to the right of this page.
Plus -
- A civil partnership formation at the Register Office will be £43.50 payable on the day
- A civil partnership formation at approved premises will incur a fee to the proprietors of the premises, and a fee for the attendance of the registrars, which is variable depending on the day on which the ceremony takes place
Will I get a certificate?
There will be two types of partnership certificate available. A certified copy will have all the information in the civil partnership register and the certified extract will have the same information except for the address recorded for the civil partners.
In order to get a copy of the certificate the applicant will have to provide the full address as recorded in the register. If the address can not be given only a certified extract will be issued. After 50 years this restriction will not apply.
Page updated: 26 Oct 2011
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