HomeWelcome To Wirral
Civil Partnership
The Civil Partnership Act came into force on 5 December 2005. This enables same sex couples to obtain legal recognition of their relationship.
How do we arrange a Civil Partnership?
How Much notice do we need to give?
What documents do we need to produce?
When is a Civil Partnership registered?
Can we have a ceremony anywhere else?
Can we sign the Partnership Schedule without having a ceremony?
When and how can we book a ceremony?
How do we arrange a Civil Partnership?
You need to make an appointment to give notice at the Register Office.
How Much notice do we need to give?
In order to form a civil partnership, you must give notice of your intention to register a civil partnership. The maximum time you can give notice is 12 months before the registration and the minimum time is 16 days before.
Notice must be given in the district in which you live.
What documents do we need to produce?
- A passport (if one is not available a birth certificate)
- Proof of address, a utility bill, bank statement, driving licence
- If either party has been through a form of marriage or civil partnership previously, then you will need to provide evidence of the dissolution
- If either of you is a widow or widower, you will need to produce a certified copy of the death certificate.
When is a Civil Partnership registered?
A Civil Partnership is formed once the couple have signed the Civil Partnership Schedule in the presence of two witnesses and the Civil Partnership registrar. Although a ceremony is not part of the legal requirement, Wirral Register Office will offer a ceremony which will incorporate the signing of the register.
Ceremonies can be held in Birkenhead and Wallasey Town Hall. Ceremonies can be provisionally booked up to 15 months in advance by phoning 0151 666 4096
Can we have a ceremony anywhere else?
It is possible to have a ceremony in a number of approved premises. Any venue approved for marriage will automatically, from the 5th December 2005, be approved for civil partnerships.
Can we sign the Partnership Schedule without having a ceremony?
The schedule will contain a form of words that the couple must acknowledge when they sign it and which they can say to each other as part of the civil partnership formation if they wish.
When and how can we book a ceremony?
You can ring 0151 666 4096 and provisionally book a date and time with us up to 15 months in advance.