If you wish to formalise your relationship, and you are a same sex couple, you can do this by registering a civil partnership.
Civil partnership registrations can take place at a
registration office or at any of the
approved licensed premises throughout the county. You may like to combine the formal registration of your partnership with a ceremony to celebrate your relationship and in Essex we have venues to suit all tastes and budgets.
Who is eligible to register a civil partnership?
If you wish to enter into a civil partnership you and your partner must be:
- of the same sex;
- not already in a civil partnership or lawful marriage;
- not closely related to one another;
- aged 18 or over (or provide evidence of consent if aged 16 or 17);
- not subject to immigration control.
Notice of partnership
Before you can have the formal registration of your partnership both partners are legally required to give a notice of partnership, in person, at a registration office in Essex (if you are Essex residents). A notice of partnership is a legal statement showing the partners' personal and family details and the name of the venue where the registration is to take place.
You will need to have arranged the location of the registration before you give the notice of partnership. You can give notice with your partner or separately, whichever is more convenient. The minimum period of residence prior to giving notice is seven days. A notice of intention to register a civil partnership is valid for one year.
Documents required
When you give your notice of partnership you will need to bring with you:
- Proof of identity, ideally a passport, driving licence or birth certificate;
- Divorce decree absolute if previously married;
- Dissolution order if previously in a civil partnership;
- A certified copy of your former partner’s death certificate if a widow or widower;
- Proof that parental or guardian’s consent is given if either proposed partner is under 18.
When both partners’ notices of partnership have been given, you must wait 15 days before the civil partnership can be registered. Like a marriage notice, details from the notice will be made available at the Essex Register Office (Brentwood) for public inspection. The details do not include either partners' address.
Details are publicly displayed for 15 days to allow for objections to be made. This is a similar process as for a marriage and grounds for objection are the same; for example, someone could object if they think one of the parties is not eligible to register a civil partnership.
Fee for notice of partnership
Both partners' need to give a notice of partnership and the fee per notice is £35.
Giving notice of partnership if one partner is not a UK or EEA citizen
If you or your partner is subject to immigration control, you will need to contact the designated registration office, which for Essex is in Brentwood. A person is subject to immigration control if they are not an EEA (European Economic Area) national and they require permission to enter or remain in the UK. When giving notice at the registration office in Brentwood, a person subject to immigration control will also be required to produce one of the following:
- Entry clearance granted to form a civil partnership;
- A Home Office certificate of approval;
- Indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
If you have any queries about immigration matters you will need to contact the
UK Border Agency.
Registering a civil partnership
On the day
You will need to arrive at your chosen venue at least ten minutes before your registration is due to start. A civil partnership registrar will officiate. You need to provide two witnesses who will sign the registration document.
The registrar will check each partner’s details against the information recorded on the registration document. The couple, the witnesses and the registrar will then sign the registration document. The partnership is formed when the second civil partner signs the document.
Declarations
Although it is not a legal requirement to do so, you may like to make the following declaration to each other before you sign the civil partnership registration document:
“I declare that I know of no legal reason why we may not register as each other’s civil partner. I understand that on signing this document we will be forming a civil partnership with each other.”
Fees for civil partnership registration
| Days |
2012/13 |
2013/14 |
| Weekday |
£355 |
£370 |
| Saturday |
£395 |
£405 |
| Sunday, Bank or Public Holiday |
£445 |
£460 |
Decommissioned ceremony rooms fees
| Day |
2012/13 |
2013/14 |
| Monday |
£120 |
£125 |
| Tuesday-Thursday |
£120 |
£125 |
| Friday |
£180 |
£190 |
| Saturday morning |
£240 |
£250 |
Combining a civil partnership registration with a ceremony
Many couples choose to celebrate the registration of their partnership by holding a ceremony either after they have signed the registration document or concluding with the signing of the registration document.
As an example, a civil partnership registration and ceremony could include:
- Introduction and welcome;
- First reading (optional);
- Declaration of freedom to commit to each other;
- Contract of commitment;
- Second reading (optional);
- Exchanging of rings or giving of gifts;
- Third reading (optional);
- Closing words;
- Signing of the civil partnership registration document and presentation of commemorative certificates.
Civil partnership registration and ceremonies must not have any religious content. The readings and music you choose must also be secular in nature.
You may wish to undertake the formalities of the civil partnership registration but defer having a civil partnership ceremony until a later date. It is possible to do this although the ceremony would have no legal status and would be purely a celebratory event.
Civil partnership certificate
The certificate is normally issued on the next working day after your registration. On the day you can purchase a commemorative certificate that can be signed following completion of the civil partnership registration document. A commemorative certificate has no legal status and can only be used as a memento of the occasion.
Civil partnerships abroad
If you are interested in holding your civil partnership abroad you should contact the embassy or high commission of the country concerned. You may be asked to obtain a certificate of no impediment. This is a document required by some foreign authorities to enable a British national to form a civil partnership in their country. If you are asked to provide one you should contact your
local registration office.