Civil partnerships
What is Civil Partnership?
Since 5 December 2005, same sex couples across the UK can
have their relationship legally recognised. A couple can
register their partnership and will have the same rights as a
married couple in areas like tax, social security, inheritance and
work place benefits.
Who can register?
Two people of the same sex who are:
- 16 years or over (with parental consent if under 18)
- Not already married or in a civil partnership
- Not closely related (parent, sister, niece, uncle)
How do we register a civil partnership?
You must firstly both give notice of your
intention to register your partnership. This is valid
for twelve months from the date given. You must give
this to your local register office in the local authority area
where you live. You must have a minimum residency period
of seven clear days. If you are usually resident in
the Rochdale Borough, this will be given at:
Rochdale Register Office, Town Hall, Vicars Gate, Rochdale OL16
1AB.
Telephone: 01706 924783/4
E-mail register.office@rochdale.gov.uk
After fifteen clear days, you will be able to register your
civil partnership by signing the civil partnership schedule in the
presence of the registrar and your two witnesses.
You will have to pay a fee to give your notices and for the
registration.
What documents will I be asked to produce?
A person is legally responsible for providing evidence of their
age, nationality and identity. You should produce your
passport to confirm this information.
If you can not produce a passport, you must produce your
full birth certificate.
If you are born after 1 January 1983, you must
also produce a full birth certificate or passport
of one of your parents shown on your birth
certificate. This is to establish your nationality.
You will also be required to provide proof of your current
address. You should produce at least one of the following:
- Utility bill
- Driving licence
- Bank or credit card statement
- Rent or tenancy agreement
If you have previously been married or been through a civil
partnership, you must provide evidence that you are now free to
enter into a civil partnership.
Divorce
A court certified copy of your decree absolute from your last
marriage or a court certified copy of a dissolution from your last
civil partnership.
Death of a Spouse
A certified copy of your late wife, husband or civil partners
death certificate.
Where can I register my civil partnership
You can register your civil partnership in the same places that
civil marriages take place. This includes any register office
or approved venue for civil ceremonies, like a hotel or
restaurant. The Civil Partnership Act does not allow you to
register your partnership in a religious building nor does it allow
you to have any religious content within the civil registration or
optional ceremony.
Do I have to have a ceremony when registering my civil
partnership?
Unlike a marriage ceremony, there is no legal requirement for
you to have a ceremony with your partnership registration.
The only requirement is that the partnership schedule is signed in
the presence of a registrar and two witnesses. As detailed
below, we give you the option to have a ceremony with your
registration at no additional cost..
|
Type of service
|
Cost
|
Basic Registration
To be carried out in the designated Register Office ceremonies
room. This is the Superintendent Registrars Office (Not the
Roche Suite).
To provide a registration, with or without ceremony for couple
and two witnesses only (Monday to Thursday).
|
Statutory fee of £40.00 + £3.50 for certificate |
Roche Suite
To provide a registration with or without ceremony for couple
and two witnesses. The room will also seat up
to thirty four guests.
|
Monday - Thursday £40.00 + £3.50 for
certificate.
Friday £46.50 + £3.50 for certificate.
Saturday £87.50 + £3.50 for certificate
*Same as marriage fees
|
Approved Venues
To provide a registration with or without ceremony for a couple
and two witnesses. Number of guests to be agreed between
couple and venue
|
Monday - Friday £224.50
Saturday - £246.50
Sunday or bank holiday £268.50
|
What kind of ceremony can I have with my civil partnership
registration?
Rochdale Register office will endeavour to offer a personalised
ceremony to meet the wishes of each couple.
We can provide the following options:
- A ceremony with a simple promise of commitment to each other
with the option to present rings.
- As above, but with the option to include additional promises
offered by register office.
- As above, but with the option to include your own personalised
promises.
All the above ceremonies can be enhanced with music and readings
of verse or poems. All readings chosen must be read by you, or one
of your guests.
Will I be issued with a certificate after a partnership
registration?
It will be possible for you to purchase a certified certificate
of your civil partnership registration/ceremony. This
certificate can only be issued when the partnership registration
had been updated on the computer national database for civil
partnership. This will usually be available for collection or
posting the next working day. A certificate will normally be
required as evidence to confirm the registration of your
partnership.