Civil Partnerships
On December 5, 2005 the Civil Partnership Act came into force. This means that same sex couples are able to make a formal, legal commitment to each other by forming a civil partnership, thereby gaining legal recognition for their relationship.
Important rights and responsibilities will follow from entering into a civil partnership and there will be a formal, court based process for dissolution of a civil partnership.
Couples have to give notice of their intention to register a civil partnership. The first civil partnerships were formed on December 21st 2005.
Each partner will need to have a seven day residential qualification and give notice in the area where they live. There will be a 15 day waiting period once notice of intention to register has been given before the registration can take place.
Registering
For more information about registering for a Civil Partnership please see:
Further guidance and information for persons subject to immigration control is available from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate from the Home Office Website.
A civil partnership will be formed once the couple have signed in the presence of a Civil Partnership Registrar and two witnesses. While it will not be necessary for couples to have a ceremony, here in Hammersmith and Fulham, there will be the opportunity to enhance the registration by including a ceremony for those couples who choose to do so. In Hammersmith and Fulham there will not be any additional fee for those couples who choose to include a simple ceremony in the Register Office.
Whether you simply want to have a registration or if you prefer to have an elaborate ceremony, we can take provisional bookings from couples who wish to hold their civil partnership formation in Hammersmith and Fulham. It is possible to make bookings up to 12 months in advance.
Anyone wishing to discuss the matter further is welcome to contact the Register Office by email: registeroffice@lbhf.gov.uk or
telephone: Tricia Maguire 020 8753 5523 or Kim Knowles 020 8753 2142
The Women and Equalities Unit of the DTI have produced a detailed guidance and update bulletin which can be found at the following link: Women and Equalities Unit, partnership guidance and bulletin
