What is a civil partnership?

Civil partnership allows same-sex couples across the United Kingdom to have their relationships legally recognised. After registration, these couples have the same rights as a married couple in areas like tax, social security, inheritance and workplace benefits.

Who can register?

Two people who are:

• of the same sex
• 16 or over (with consent if under 18)
• not already married or in a civil partnership
• not closely related (e.g. parent, sister, niece, uncle)

How do we register a civil partnership?

First of all, you give notice of your intention to register at your nearest registration service point. An appointment can be made by telephoning 0345 678 9016 or by using our electronic booking system by following the link to 'Registration service - Book an appointment'. After 15 clear days, you can register your civil partnership by signing a civil partnership schedule in front of the registrar and your two witnesses.

The most important things to do are:

• Get advice and information. Your local register office or the website of the general register office can help. Please follow the 'Location of registration service points' link below for details.
• Decide where you want to register. You can register in the same sorts of places where you can get married: a registration service point or a venue such as a hotel, if it is approved for the purpose. From 5th December 2011 it is possible for religious buildings to apply to be approved for civil partnership formations. These provisions allow religious groups to 'opt in' if they wish to, by following a licensing and approval process. For further information about holding a civil partnership formation in a religious building please contact us on 0345 678 9016.
• Fix the date. If you are registering at an approved venue, remember to check that the registrar can attend on that day.
• Arrange to give notice of your intention to register. You both have to give notice at least 15 clear days before the date of registering. Regardless of where you are registering, you must arrange for each of you to give notice to a registration service point for the area in which you have lived for the 7 days before giving notice. You will have to bring certain documents with you (such as your birth certificate) - check in advance with the registrar.
• Get registered. A civil partnership is formed when each person signs the civil partnership schedule in front of the registrar and two witnesses. If you want a ceremony around these formalities, you should discuss it with the registration service and the venue. However, no religious service can take place whilst the civil partnership registrar is officiating at the formation of a civil partnership, this includes where the civil partnership formation is taking place in a religious building.

Overseas relationships

Some same-sex overseas relationships will automatically be treated as civil partnerships in the United Kingdom and you may not need to register again. Full details of the overseas schemes which may be recognised can be found by following the link on this page.

Immigration control

If either of the parties are subject to immigration control, you will need to go together to a specially designated register office. For more information on these issues, please contact the Immigration and Nationality Bureau on 0870 606 7766.

Civil partnerships - your rights and responsibilities

Getting registered is an important commitment and a serious decision that brings with it significant consequences in terms of both rights and responsibilities. These are shown in the attached download.

The website links mentioned in the attached download are also shown on this web page should you need further information.

When one civil partner dies

• Inheriting property - a bereaved civil partner will be treated the same way as a widow or widower in relation to inheriting their deceased civil partner's estate, particularly if he or she died without making a will.
• Inheriting a tenancy - a person will be entitled to inherit their civil partner's tenancy upon their death, in the same way that a widow or widower can.
• Life assurance - civil partners will have the right to obtain assurance on their civil partner's life on a basis equivalent to married people.
• Fatal accidents compensation - if a person dies in an accident caused by someone else's negligence, then that person's civil partner, or someone who has been living with the deceased as a civil partner for at least 2 years, will be entitled to claim compensation for financial loss. They will also be entitled to claim bereavement damages.
• Criminal injuries compensation scheme - civil partners will be entitled to a fatal injury award on the same basis as married people.

If things go wrong

Relationship support

Problems arise in all relationships which you may not be able to solve on your own. There are people you can go to for advice or counselling to help you work through these difficulties. For further support contact Relate on 0845 456 1310.

Domestic violence

There are a range of legal protections open to all couples. These include non-molestation orders, which are used to restrain someone from threatening or causing violence to you, and occupation orders, which determine who should stay in the home shared by the couple to protect either party (or any children) from domestic violence.

Anyone affected by domestic violence, or the threat of it, can phone the Domestic Violence national freephone 24-hour helpline on 0808 200 247, or Broken Rainbow (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender domestic violence forum) on 0845 260 4460 (available 9.am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm). In an emergency, always call the police by dialling 999.

Ending a civil partnership

A civil partnership can only be ended by death, dissolution or annulment. Dissolution is a court-based process, and as with marriage you will need to talk to a solicitor if you want to dissolve a civil partnership, though you cannot dissolve it less than a year after it was formed.

The grounds for dissolving a civil partnership are:

• unreasonable behaviour
• 2 years separation (with consent)
• 5 years separation (without consent)
• if one partner has deserted the other for 2 years

Annulment only applies in specific situations, for example where one of the couple did not validly consent to the civil partnership.

The courts will have the power to make provision for the division of property upon separation, the maintenance of either civil partner, and residence and contact with any children on the civil partnership and the maintenance of the child.

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