Civil Partnerships
How can we register a Civil Partnership?
What documents do we need to produce?
How is the Civil Partnership formed?
At what time of day can we register our Civil Partnership?
Can we have a ceremony as part of the legal process?
Where can we form our Civil Partnership?
How much does it cost to form a Civil Partnership?
Change of name once we have become civil partners
What is Civil Partnership?
The Civil Partnership Act 2004, which came into force on 5 December 2005, provides same sex couples with the facility to gain legal recognition of their relationship. This does not class same sex couples as being “married”, but it does afford them the same legal rights and benefits as heterosexual married couples, with regard to pensions, tax, next of kin rights and so forth.
How can we register a Civil Partnership?
You must be a same-sex couple, both over 18 (or with evidence of consent if 16 or 17), not related to each other within the prohibited degrees of relationship, and not in an existing marriage or civil partnership.
Both of you must have resided in your registration authority area for a minimum of seven days. You must both attend personally (usually by appointment) at your local Register Office in order to give notice of your intention to register a Civil Partnership.
Both notices are then displayed on the public notice board at a designated office for 15 full days, after which time you can register your partnership.
Where can we give notice?
If you live in the county of Nottinghamshire you can give notice of your intention to register a Civil Partnership at any Nottinghamshire Register Office. All Register Offices operate an appointment system.
What documents do we need to produce?
You will be asked to provide evidence of your:
- age and identity eg. current passport, full birth certificate, driving licence and evidence of change of name (if appropriate)
- condition i.e. Decree Absolute or death certificate (and English translation, if appropriate)
- nationality i.e. current passport or full birth certificate
- current home address, eg. utility bill, bank statement, Council Tax Demand etc.
All documents must be originals.
How is the Civil Partnership formed?
A Civil Partnership is formed once you and your partner have signed the relevant legal document (called a schedule) in the presence of a registration officer and two witnesses. There is no legal requirement for you to say any official words, although there are formal statements printed on the document which you may say if you wish.
Can we have a ceremony as part of this legal process?
Although there is no legal requirement to go through any sort of ceremony, Nottinghamshire County Council will offer ceremonies as an optional addition to the legal registration for those couples who wish to do so. This will incur additional costs when taking place at venues other than the Register Office.
If you would like to have a ceremony, we will work with you to make it a special and unique occasion. You can select words (personal vows/promises), readings of poetry and music that hold a special meaning for you , and you may choose a role for friends or family within the ceremony. However, all aspects of the proceedings must be non-religious.
At what time of day can we register our Civil Partnership?
Civil Partnerships can only be registered between 8am and 6pm. However, if one of the couple is seriously ill and not expected to recover this may take place at any time (by mutual agreement with registration staff).
Can we book a date and time for a ceremony / the formation of our partnership before giving notice?
Yes. It is advisable to make a Provisional Booking with the Register Office in whose district you wish to form your Civil Partnership. This can be done usually up to a maximum of 12 calendar months in advance.
Where can we form our Civil Partnership?
You may form a Civil Partnership at any Register Office or at any premises approved by the local authority for civil marriages and civil partnerships. A list of such venues for Nottinghamshire can also be obtained from any Nottinghamshire Register Office.
How much does it cost to form a Civil Partnership?
The statutory fee for giving notice of intention to register a Civil Partnership is £30 per person.
This is a fee to give notice, it is not a deposit, nor is it refundable should the civil partnership not be registered.
The statutory fee on the day of the formation of your Civil Partnership (at the Register Office) is £43.50, which includes one certificate.
For staff to attend an approved venue to conduct your ceremony incurs different costs:
Mon - Fri £260
Sat £290
Sun £340
These fees are reviewed each year and are correct upto 31 March 2009.
Change of name once we become civil partners
There is no requirement for either of you to change your surname once you have become civil partners. If, on becoming civil partners, one of you does wish to change their surname to their new civil partner’s surname, you can do this simply by changing to that surname and using it for all purposes. This may include both of you joining your surnames together.
There is no legal procedure to follow and you do not necessarily need legal proof that you have changed your name, provided that you can be identified by your new chosen name. Showing your civil partnership certificate will normally suffice when notifying people of your change of surname.
Occasionally, this may not be enough and further evidence of your change of name may be requested, such as a letter from a responsible person, a statutory declaration or a deed poll. There will, of course, be a cost involved with these.
For further information and advice about changing your name, see the Citizens Advice Bureau website at www.adviceguide.org.uk/change_of_name
For a list of people and organisations to notify of your change of name, go to Who should I inform of my name change? [PDF 51KB] 
Further information
For further details, please see the DTI press release on the General Register Office website
www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/civilpartnerships
For the latest information on Civil Partnership implementation please visit
www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/civilpartnership
Or contact your local Register Office.
