Civil partnerships
From 5 December 2005, same sex couples across the United Kingdom
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 (for example: parent, sister, niece,
uncle).
How to register a civil partnership
You must firstly both give notice of your
intention to register your partnership. This is valid for 12 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 days. If you are usually resident
in the Rochdale borough, this will be given at Rochdale Register
Office.
After 15 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.
Documents you need to produce
Each person is legally responsible for providing evidence of
age, identity and nationality. You will also be asked for proof of
current address. You must provide at least one of the
following:
- Passport.
- Birth certificate.
- Acceptable documents required for proof of address.
You should produce at least one of the following:
- Utility bill.
- Driving licence.
- Bank/credit card statement.
- Rent/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 in to 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 spouse
A certified copy of your late wife/husband/civil partners death
certificate.
Where to register a 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.
Civil partnership ceremony
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.
Civil Partnership registration
The following are the options the Rochdale Register Office
offer for Civil Partnership registration.
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
2 witnesses only (Monday-Thursday)
Cost: Statutory fee of £40+£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 34 guests.
Cost: Monday–Thursday £40+£3.50 for certificate.
Friday £42.50+£3.50 for certificate.
Saturday £76.50+£3.50 for certificate.
Approved Venues
To provide a registration with or without ceremony for couple
and two witnesses.
Number of guests to be agreed between couple and venue.
Cost: Monday- Friday £200+£3.50 for certificate.
Saturday £220+£3.50 for certificate.
Sunday/bank holiday £240+£3.50 for certificate.
Types of ceremony
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 ring/s.
- As above, but with the option to include additional promises
offered by the 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
Partnership registration certificate
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 has 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.