Same-sex couples who form a civil partnership will be
treated equally in a wide range of legal matters with
those opposite-sex couples who enter into a marriage. For
more information on Civil Partnerships go to the Women
and Equality Unit website or HM
Government booklet (pdf file).
When
will my partner and I be able to form a civil partnership?
The
Civil Partnership Act 2004 comes into force on 5 December
2005. This will enable the first civil partnerships to be
formed under the standard procedure on 21 December.
What
are the eligibility requirements?
In
order to form a civil partnership in the UK, the couple
must:
- both be of the
same sex ;
- not already be
in a civil partnership or marriage;
- be 16 years of
age or older ;
- not be within
the prohibited degrees of relationship.
In England and
Wales individuals who are aged 16 and 17 will have to
obtain the written consent of their parent(s) or legal
guardian(s) before forming a civil partnership.
How do
my partner and I go about forming a civil partnership?
If
you live in Lancashire you will first need to contact the Ceremony
Officer for the area in which you live. The Ceremony
Officer will arrange an appointment for you to give a
formal notice of your intention to form a civil
partnership at a Lancashire
Registration Office. If you live outside Lancashire
you will need to contact the Registration Office in the
district where you live.
There has to be a period of fifteen clear days between
giving this notice and being able to register as civil
partners. This will allow the proper checks to be made to
ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements. If the
two of you give notice on different days, the 15-day
waiting period is counted from the date that the second of
the two notices is given. If an objection is made during
the waiting period, the objection will have to be dealt
with before the registration can take place.
When you give notice, you will be asked to state where you
wish your civil partnership registration to take place. A
civil partnership is formed when you both sign the
relevant document in the presence of a registration
officer and two witnesses. The civil partnership comes
into being once the second civil partner signs the
document.
Can we
have a civil partnership ceremony?
You
will be able to arrange a civil partnership ceremony
in addition to the registration procedure if you wish but
the Civil Partnership Act does not require a ceremony as
part of the registration procedure.
Civil partnership registration is an entirely secular
process. The Civil Partnership Act stipulates that no
religious content can be included in the formation of, or,
in the ceremony accompanying, a civil partnership. We will
be more than happy to arrange a civil partnership ceremony
for you. Please contact the appropriate Ceremony Officer
for more information and to book a ceremony.
Partnership
Ceremonies
A
partnership ceremony is a formal ceremony that celebrates
a couple's commitment to each other and is an opportunity
to acknowledge and celebrate that relationship with family
and friends. You do not have to live in Lancashire to be
able to have your ceremony in this county. However a
partnership Ceremony will only be conducted as part of a
civil partnership registration.
Where
and when can ceremonies be held?
Lancashire
offers partnership ceremonies in all the Registration
Offices and approved
premises within the county. They may be celebrated on
any day of the week except Good Friday, Christmas Day, and
Boxing Day.
Can we
choose our own ceremony?
Of
course you can. Each ceremony is unique to you and your
partner. You will both have the chance to work closely
with a professional celebrant to select and tailor a
ceremony that is special for you both. Every ceremony is
different so you can create something unique for you to
remember and treasure.
What
happens in the ceremony?
The
ceremony may be as simple or as grand as you wish - we
provide the framework for you to build upon. Each ceremony
is divided into the following sections that give you the
chance to create something personal to you both:
You do not need to
include every section in your ceremony, and each part of
the ceremony can be as simple or as complex as you wish.
Readings or music can be included before, during and after
the ceremony.
How
long does a ceremony last?
That
depends on the type of ceremony and the different options
you choose. In Lancashire we suggest you allow 30 minutes
for your ceremony.
How
much will the ceremony cost?
The
fee will vary depending on the day, time and venue that
you choose. You will need to contact the specific venue of
your choice about availability and their room hire
charges.
Once you have decided to proceed with your ceremony
telephone the appropriate Ceremony
Officer with details of your venue and preferred date.
The Ceremony Officer will check availability and give you
a booklet to help you choose the format of your ceremony.
You will have the opportunity to discuss the content of
the ceremony to ensure that it will be unique and special
to you both.
Find out more at the General
Register Office, the government's Civil
Partnership Guide and from the excellent
information at Stonewall:
Partnerships.
Useful Links:
Civil
Partnership Act
Civil
Partnership in Scotland
Stonewall:
Partnership
General
Register Office
General
Register Office for Scotland
Advice
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