Giving notice of civil partnership

A notice of intent for a civil partnership needs to be given when a couple is forming their civil partnership at a register office or at an approved venue. A notice of intent needs to be given in person at least 28 days before the civil partnership and can be given up to one year in advance.

All civil partnerships involving a non-European Economic Area (EEA) national who does not provide specified evidence of settled or permanent resident status, a civil partnership visa, or exemption from immigration control will be referred to Home Office immigration and the waiting period may be extended to 70 days.

Anyone wishing to give notice must be 18 years of age. Anyone under 18 will need to obtain necessary consent from their parents or legal guardians. Please ask us for a consent form.

Couples can chose to either form a civil partnership or to be married. Couples in an existing civil partnership can convert their civil partnership into a marriage if they chose.

Hammersmith & Fulham residents

If both parties are British or Nationals of an European Economic Area (EEA) country living in Hammersmith &Fulham, then they will need to give notice at Hammersmith & Fulham Register Office. They need to have been resident in the borough for seven clear days before being able to give notice.

If one or both parties are subject to immigration control then they will need to give notice together at any designated register office. Hammersmith & Fulham Register Office is a designated office. They will also need to have been resident for seven clear days in the borough in which they live.

Booking a notice appointment

Our appointment system runs from Monday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm.

As ceremonies are now only taking place in exceptional circumstances following the latest government guidance, we are prioritising notice appointments for couples with a confirmed ceremony booking or where a notice needs to be given due to exceptional circumstances. Supporting evidence may be required in these circumstances.

In order to book a notice appointment please email your request along with your ceremony booking confirmation email and or supporting evidence to registeroffice@lbhf.gov.uk

You must know the venue name where your legal ceremony will be held.

Fees and cancellation policy

Notice of marriage or civil partnership: £35 per person.

Notice of marriage or civil partnership where one or both individuals are subject to immigration control: £47 per person.

If you or your partner have been divorced outside the British Isles, your notice will need to be considered by a superintendent registrar or registrar general. Below are the additional charges for this service.

Consideration by superintendent registrar of a divorce obtained outside the British Isles: £50.

Consideration by the registrar general of a divorce obtained outside the British Isles: £75.

You must pay a booking fee when you schedule your appointment.

The booking fee will be used towards payment for the service. This payment is non-refundable in the event of cancellation (48 hours’ notice required), lateness or arriving with missing documents.

You can amend your appointment date up to 48 hours in advance if needed.

If you need to make any additional payment at your appointment for the reasons described above, please note that payments can only be made by using a debit or credit card, contactless payment or Apple Pay. We do not accept American Express, bank transfer, cash or cheques.

Residents outside Hammersmith & Fulham

If both parties are British or Nationals of an European Economic Area (EEA) country living outside Hammersmith & Fulham, then they will need to give notice at the register office in the district in which they live. They need to have been resident in that borough for seven clear days before being able to give notice.

If one or both parties are subject to immigration control then they will need to give notice together at any designated register office. Hammersmith & Fulham Register Office is a designated office.

Foreign nationals and the Home Office referral scheme

All non-EEA nationals without settled status, a marriage or civil partnership visa or evidence of immigration status will be referred to the immigration team at the Home Office for investigation.

Those within scope of the referral scheme will be charged a fee of £47 for their notice. This applies to both parties giving notice, even if one of the parties is a UK/EEA national as both parties will be in the referral scheme.
Those within scope may have their notice period extended from 28 days to 70 days

Documents required

Each person needs to provide original, hard copy documents. We don't accept photocopies or electronic statements on a mobile device.

Valid passport or travel document or European ID card*
Proof of address: bank statement (dated within 1 month of the notice appointment), utility bill (dated within 3 months of the notice appointment), council tax (most recent one, no older than a year) or UK driving licence.
Previous marriage/civil partnership documents (if applicable); final divorce documents and translation (if not in English) or death certificate and translation (if not in English).
Change of name documents (if applicable)
Full name of the venue where the civil partnership will be taking place and the registration district it falls under. If you have been given a booking form please bring this with you
£35 (per person) or £47 (per person if subject to the immigration referral scheme) - card payment only. This is a statutory fee and therefore is non-refundable.
£50 for consideration of foreign divorce / civil partnership dissolution document or £75 for consideration of a foreign divorce / civil partnership dissolution document that has to be referred to GRO.
Someone to translate for you if you either party does not speak or understand English. The parties forming the civil partnership cannot translate for each other.

* If either party does not hold a valid passport, travel document or European ID card please call us on 020 8753 2140 for advice.