Civil partnerships

In the UK, couples can choose a civil partnership or marriage. This applies to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Registering a civil relationship gives you legal rights and duties, like in marriage.

If you are in a same-sex couple you can:

  • register your partnership (Civil Partnerships Act 2005)
  • register your marriage
  • convert your civil partnership to a marriage. This is for civil partnerships that took place before 29th March 2014.

Giving notice of civil partnership

You need to provide a notice of civil partnership. You must do this before your partnership is formed in the UK. This is a legal declaration that you and your partner must complete.

The details of your notice will be displayed at the Register office. They will be on display there for a period of 28 days. For more information, see giving notice of civil partnerships.

Convert a civil partnership into a marriage

You can convert your civil partnership into a marriage. The conversion will not be a marriage ceremony. It changes an old legal relationship. It does not make a new one. The fee for the conversion is £45.00.

Converting a civil partnership into a marriage

To convert your partnership, you and your partner must:

  • Attend an appointment with a superintendent registrar. It can be at a Register office. It can also be at other approved venues for same-sex marriages.
  • Provide proof of your identity. Provide the original civil partnership registration certificate.
  • Sign a statement. This will confirm that you have not ended your civil partnership. It states that you both wish to convert it to a marriage.

Contact our Register office to begin the process.

What happens next?

  • When you complete the conversion it will be registered online. We will issue you with a handwritten certificate.

Partnerships that can be converted into a marriage

You can convert your partnership if it was:

  • Registered in England and Wales.
  • Or, registered overseas in a consulate or armed forces base. The civil partnership must have been registered under English and Welsh law.

Partnerships that can't be converted into a marriage

You won't be able to convert your partnership into a marriage in England or Wales if:

  • Your partnership was formed outside of England and Wales. You should seek legal advice to find out the options which are available to you.
  • You are in a legal relationship which is still valid in the country the relationship was formed in. You have to be legally free to marry.

For more information visit GOV.UK or Stonewall.