Civil Partnership
Civil partnership is a legal and formal recognition of the relationship between two people, through which they gain rights in law similar to married couples. Choosing your Venue Civil partnerships can take place in register offices or approved premises (a full list of approved premises in Bristol are listed in the back pocket of this brochure) and are arranged through the register office that covers the area where you intend to form the partnership. Giving notice of intention to form a Civil Partnership Before a civil partnership can take place couples must give formal notice of their intention to enter into a civil partnership. This is a legal requirement and failure to give notice will result in the civil partnership not taking place. You must live in the registration authority district for at least seven days before you may give notice on the eighth day. It does not matter if you move away from the area after you have given notice. Once notice has been given, a period of 28 clear days, or possibly 70 days if you or your partner are subject to immigration control, must elapse before the schedule (authority for the partnership to take place) can be issued. This is valid for one year. The notice and schedule will state the place in which the civil partnership will take place. If you wish to change the venue then new notices will have to be given. Documents required One of the registration staff will interview you in private. In all cases evidence of identity and nationality will be required. The preferred document is a current passport. If you do not
have a passport there are other documents which may be acceptable: please contact us for advice. We also require proof of residence: A bank statement no more than one month old at the time of the appointment, a utility bill no more than three months old at the time of the appointment, the current council tax bill, mortgage statement or tenancy agreement, or valid driving licence are acceptable. If either of you have been married or through a civil partnership before, either in this country or abroad, you will need to produce evidence that the previous marriage or civil partnership has ended. If you are divorced, and your divorce was in England or Wales, the document required is a court- stamped Decree Absolute. If the divorce was elsewhere you must produce the original document issued by the court and, if not written in English, a third-party translation. A fee of either £55 or £83 is payable for the consideration of any divorce granted outside the British Isles. This will be done by either the register office or the General Register Office, dependent on where the divorce was granted, and will enable your ceremony to go ahead. If you are widowed, you will need to bring the death certificate of your former spouse. If you have changed your name legally please bring the legal document with you. Our registration staff will advise you which documents are required, depending on your own personal circumstances. Please note that photocopies are not acceptable. The Civil Partnership On the day you must bring two people with you to be witnesses to your civil partnership. You can choose any relative or friend as long as they are old enough to understand what is taking place. Please arrive at least fifteen minutes before the civil partnership is due to begin as we will need to check the details taken at the time of the notice and collect any fees due. The Civil Partnership Registrar will welcome you and remind you of the legal nature of civil partnerships. The couple and their witnesses will then sign the civil partnership schedule. You may exchange rings, gifts or special vows, after which the partnership registrar will declare that you are civil partners. It is essential that you check the schedule carefully before signing. Any mistakes can only be corrected if they are noticed straight away. Once signed, only by a formal application to the General Register Office can any error be amended and will incur a fee of £99. There will then be an opportunity for photographs. If you wish to know more about civil partnerships at the register office or approved venues, please ask your registrar for details. We are here to give guidance and support throughout and will do everything within our power to make your day happy and memorable.
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