For those who don't know, The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into operation on 5 December 2005 in the UK and enables a same-sex couple to register as civil partners of each other. Our advice on how to organise your civil partnership is with all the information on how to organise weddings. We make no distinction. It is up to you how traditional or novel you want to make your day. You are definitely less constrained when it comes to what to do on the day e.g. speeches and attendants. When it comes to the ceremony, the actual wording can vary between registry offices but usually there is at least a few choices of words in each of the segments that make up the ceremony and these options are available from the registry office you choose.
The basics
A civil partnership ceremony can be performed in a registry office or in approved premises in the presence of a registrar with whom you have previously you have registered your intent and done the paper work
Residency requirements
You can register a civil partnership in the UK as long as you have both lived in a registration authority for at least seven days immediately before giving notice of your intention to register the partnership.
When do the seven days begin and end?
Here is an example - A person arriving in a registration authority at any time on a Tuesday does not start the seven day period until the Wednesday because he or she has only been resident for part of Tuesday. Wednesday would be day 1 and the following Tuesday would be day 7, so notice could only be given on or after the second Wednesday. This applies to all couples, including those travelling from overseas to register a civil partnership in the UK. As long as one person is resident in the UK, then the other person may also give notice in another home nation (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales) of their intention to register a civil partnership in a different home nation providing neither party is subject to immigration control. Officers, ratings or marines on board one of Her Majesty’s ships at sea can give notice to the captain or other commanding officer provided the person with whom they intend to register a civil partnership is resident in the UK.
Documentation required
You will need to show the authorised person documentary evidence of your name, age and nationality – ideally in the form of your passport. You will also be asked to provide evidence of your address. If you have been married before or party to a previous civil partnership, you will also need to produce documents that confirm that you are now free to register a civil partnership. These could include:
-
divorce decree absolute bearing the court’s original stamp
-
final order of dissolution of a civil partnership
-
death certificate of your former husband, wife or civil partner
Registering a Civil Partnership abroad
If you have any general enquiries about registering a civil partnership abroad, you should contact the Embassy or High Commission of the country concerned. It is possible you will be asked to obtain a certificate of no impediment. This is a document required by some foreign authorities to enable a British national to register a civil partnership in their country and, under certain circumstances, it can be provided by your registration authority. If you are asked to provide one, you should contact your registration authority.
Visiting the UK to form a Civil Partnership
From 1 February 2005 if you are visiting the UK to form a civil partnership and you are a citizen of a country that is not a member of the European Economic Area, you will need to apply for a visa before you travel. If you do not get a visa the registrar will not be able to take your notice of marriage and you will not be able to marry in the UK. For more information visit the UK Visas website.
If you are already in the UK, and you are a citizen of a country that is not a member of the European Economic Area, you will need the approval of the Home Secretary to be married here. This will be provided in the form of a certificate of approval. Please visit the relative General Register Office (links below) for the nation you wish to register your Civil Partnership in to obtain more information.
So to recap: if you or your partner is subject to immigration control, you need one of the following to give notice of civil partnership:
-
A visa providing you entry clearance, expressly for the purpose of marriage or civil partnership in the UK
-
A certificate of approval with written permission of the Secretary of State – you can get this from the Home Office
-
A document showing that you have settled status in the UK, e.g. Indefinite Leave to Remain
On the day
On the day of your civil partnership, you will need to bring at least two other people who can sign as witnesses. A civil partnership cannot have any religious content, but you may be able to arrange for individual touches such as non-religious music and readings to be added to the legal wording, and for the ceremony to be videoed. The register office where you intend to marry will be able to tell you more about the options available.
The ceremony basically takes this shape:
-
The meeting and greeting of guests by your ushers or other attendants; this is vital if things are to go smoothly -
Your ushers should give out the Order of Service. Ensure your ushers are briefed in advance
-
You may need a seating plan for the ceremony for the main wedding party but unless you are royalty, most people will sit in the chairs directly behind the first few rows which are set aside for immediate family and the wedding party. Traditionally the Groom's family are seated on the right side as you go into the venue with the Bride's on the left. It is up to you how you decide which partner and their family is on which side.
-
It is common now that if there is an imbalance of guests e.g. the one partner has more guests or family than the other, that friends are encouraged to sit anywhere to ensure that the venue does not look too imbalanced. It is the ushers who will give out the order of service and accompany of the wedding parties to their seats - particularly important if the guest is elderly or has a special place in the seating plan
-
It is likely the Registrar will want to meet you both before hand either separately or individually to go through what is about to happen. Once this is done (usually in a separate room) the ceremony can begin
-
How you enter the room is up to you. Accompanied by your father or mother, going in together or with your attendants before you, or after you. The idea here is to have a small precession so that every one can see you (and your outfits!)
-
The entrance of those about to be joined in partnership is usually done to music and the congregation must rise when the entrance music is played. Again, decide in advance who is on which side of the congregation. For a bride, the Chief Bridesmaid will at this point take ownership of the Bride's bouquet
-
The Registrar will welcome everyone, ask the congregation to be seated and will say a few words (which will probably include rules on taking photographs and throwing confetti!)
-
Note that if you have been "given away", whoever has had this honour will then take their seat
-
The Registrar will then guide the couple through the Ceremony including asking if anyone knows of any lawful reason why the wedding cannot take place. Please note, a very dim view is taken of any practical jokers at this point! The Registrar will ask the couple to exchange vows. The actual words used in the ceremony are not universal and will depend on what the particular local authority use. You may well have a choice which you will have decided in advance. The Registrar will then ask for the rings. The couple then exchange further promises "I give thee this ring" etc. The Registrar then pronounces you as a couple!
-
The Registrar will then ask the couple to signer the Register and for the witnesses to join them. Only two witnesses are needed and again this should be decided in advance; traditionally it is the Chief Bridesmaid and the Best Man. This signing is done in front of everyone.
-
It is at this time that either a piece of music you have selected is played, or a soloist performs or a choir sing
-
Then, perhaps with a few words from the Registrar, the ceremony comes to and end with the exit music playing, the couple leave the room, followed by their attendants who pair up together, then the respective parents. This pairing off should be confirmed in advance of the ceremony
-
The room empties from the front, everyone joining in as the procession passes them as they head towards the door
Welsh Ceremonies
You can have your civil partnership in Welsh in any place in which the Welsh language is commonly used. If you are giving notice in Wales, you may give this in English, or in English and Welsh. If notice is to be given bilingually, both the couple giving notice and the officer must be able to understand the Welsh language. All local authorities in Wales have at least one Welsh speaking officer or deputy. Both yourselves, your witnesses and the person conducting the marriage should be able to understand what is being said. You don’t have to have given notice in Welsh.
Finding out more
The rules are broadly the same but each of the home nations have their own General Register Office which gives information on how to register and how to find your nearest registry office.
