Civil Partnership
Civil Partnership allows for same sex couples to have their relationship formally and legally recognised, giving them the same rights as married couples in important areas such as tax, social security, inheritance and workplace benefits.
Nowadays there is a really exciting variety of venues in which you may choose to form a civil partnership in England and Wales. In the following pages we outline the legal requirements and the procedures involved in forming a civil partnership. We hope that you find the information useful. Don't forget that we are here to help you, so if you would like any further information or clarification please get in touch with us. Our aim is to help you have a perfect occasion.
Choosing the Venue
A civil partnership can take place in either a Register Office or an Approved Venue. Civil partnerships are arranged through the Register Office in the area in which you wish to form your partnership. Details of the register offices and the approved venues within Norfolk can be found on the web pages at www.norfolk.gov.uk and within the pages of this brochure.
Civil Partnerships at Register Offices
You can form a civil partnership at any Register Office in England and Wales. Norfolk has nine Register Offices varying in style, capacity and facilities. We are happy for you to arrange to visit any of them if you wish before making a booking. You will both need to give a Notice of civil partnership before your partnership can be formed (see Legal Preliminaries).
Civil Partnerships at Approved Venues
Civil partnerships can take place in buildings which have been approved by the local authority such as hotels and stately homes. At present it is not possible to form a partnership in the open air, a marquee or any moveable structure such as a boat or hot-air balloon! Many of Norfolk's Approved Venues are featured in this brochure. A full list is available on our web pages at www.norfolk.gov.uk
You should secure a provisional date and time with your chosen venue and then contact the Register Office responsible for that venue. They will advise whether an Officer is available to form your partnership. You should contact the Register Office before paying a deposit to an Approved Venue. Ceremonies at these venues are becoming increasingly popular so bookings should be made as soon as possible.
You will both need to give Notice before you can form a civil partnership (see Legal Preliminaries).
Legal Preliminaries
Before you can form a civil partnership, there are certain legal formalities that need to be observed. The main requirement is for the couple to each give a Notice to any convenient Register Office. Giving a Notice means that you are making a declaration that you are both free in law to form a legal partnership with each other and will require you to produce certain documents (see Giving a Notice).
You must give your Notice in the district in which you have been living for at least 7 consecutive days, immediately before giving Notice. It does not matter if you move out of the area once Notice is given. If you fail to give Notice the formation cannot take place.
Giving a Notice
- Contact any convenient Register Office to make an appointment.
- If either of you is under 18 years of age the consent of your parents or guardians is required.
- A consent form is available from your Register Office.
- Evidence of name is required. e.g. Passport, Birth Certificate, Deed Poll
- Evidence of nationality is required. eg. Passport
- Evidence of address. e.g. Recent Utility Bill, Recent Bank Statement, Driving License
- If either of you has been married or formed a civil partnership before you will need to provide documentary evidence to show how your last one ended. e.g. A Decree Absolute or the Death Certificate of your former spouse or partner
- All documents must be originals.
- A statutory fee is payable to the Register Office for giving Notice.
- Notices must be given in person by each partner.
- If you intend to give Notice at the same Register Office you should try to attend together to give your Notices.
- If you give Notice at different Register Offices you should try to give your Notices within 7 days of each other.
- You can give Notice up to 12 months in advance of the date of your civil partnership formation.
- If either of you is a foreign national, please see the section on Immigration Control.
After you have given notice remember the following:
- You must wait at least 15 clear days before the civil partnership formation can take place. On the 16th day, a Schedule will be issued allowing the formation to proceed.
- The Schedule is the legal document that permits the formation to go ahead and is valid for 12 months from the date that you gave Notice.
- If you change the venue for your formation then fresh Notice will have to be given and a further statutory fee will have to be paid.
Fees
For current fees please contact your local Register Office or visit our web pages at www.norfolk.gov.uk
Your Civil Partnership
We are very aware that everyone is different and so are their requirements. You may want no fuss at all and to simply sign the Schedule that forms your partnership together in front of your witnesses. On the other hand you may want to mark the occasion with a more elaborate ceremony. If you do, just remember that any music, readings or words that you may choose should not be religious in any way.
When you give your Notice, we give you a helpful booklet with all the ceremony choices we offer. Our experienced Registration Officers will be only too happy to discuss the options available. We are fully aware that it is your special day!
Are you subject to Immigration Control?
You are not subject to immigration control if you:
- Are a British Citizen
- Are a national of a country in the EEA (European Economic Area) or Swiss
- If you have, in your passport, a certificate of entitlement giving you the right of abode in the UK.
If you do not satisfy any of the conditions above, you are likely to be subject to immigration control.
If you are planning to form a civil partnership in the UK the following conditions apply:
- If you are already in the UK you will need to have settled status or if you do not have this, you will need to apply to the Home Office for a Certificate of Approval.
- If you are coming into the UK from abroad, you must obtain the appropriate official permission to form a civil partnership before you arrive. (e.g. a civil partnership visa)
You will need to give Notice at a Designated Register Office; this is a special Register Office that is allowed to take Notices from persons subject to immigration control. The Norwich Register Office is the designated office for Norfolk. You may give Notice at any of the designated offices in England and Wales. A full list of designated offices is available from the Norwich Register Office. For further information regarding immigration status please telephone the Home Office on 0870 606 7766 or visit their web site www.norfolk.gov.uk