Civil Partnerships

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The Civil Partnership Act 2004 allows same sex couples the opportunity to have their relationship legally recognised by forming a Civil Partnership. It gives them the same rights as married couples in areas such as tax, social security, inheritance and workplace benefits

Information on Civil Partnership Registration can be found at the DTI's Women and Equality Unit website, linked at the end of the page.

What do I need to know?

Every person wishing to register their civil partnership in the UK has to prove their nationality before giving their notice of civil partnership.

If one or both of you are subject to immigration control you will need to attend a designated register office together. Kingston is a Designated Register Office.

If you are not subject to immigration control and you wish to register you civil partnership in a register office or an approved premises, both you and your partner must give separate notices to the Register Office for the districts in which you have lived for a minimum of seven complete days immediately before giving your notices.

Everyone wishing to give a notice of civil partnership will need to produce certain documents which are listed below and is your responsibility to provide this evidence.

The notices of civil partnership are legal requirement and must be given by both parties in person.

You must know the name of the venue where you are registering your civil partnership when you give your notice.

How do I arrange a Civil Partnership Ceremony?

When you visit the register office you will interviewed in private and asked some simple questions about yourself and your partner. The registrar will complete a form for you to sign. This will then be displayed for 15 clear days on a notice board in the Register Office, which the general public are allowed to see. After the 15 clear days have expired a document called a “schedule”, which forms the basis of your civil partnership, can be issued.

Please remember you must wait at least fifteen clear days after each of you has given your notices before the civil partnership registration can take place.

What documents do I need?

When you give your notices of civil partnership you will need to produce

• documents that prove your nationality and identity  -  valid passports ideally but it is your responsibility to provide sufficient evidence

• if you are a foreign national and do not have a passport you may produce a National ID card or a Home Office travel document

You will also need to produce proof of residence:

• a Council Tax Bill, a recent utility bill or a recent bank statement

Please follow the Directgov 'Marriage and civil partnership: your legal obligations' link below which will give you detailed advice on what documents are acceptable as proof of name, age, nationality and address.

We work in close co-operation with the UK Border Agency for the detection and prevention of sham civil partnerships.

If you have previously been through any form of marriage or civil partnership in this or any other country, you will need to produce evidence that the marriage or civil partnership has ended:

• a decree absolute if you were divorced in this country or an original final divorce document with translation if the divorce took place overseas
• a death certificate for your late husband or wife if you are widowed.
• If you have previously been through a civil partnership you will need to produce documents showing that the civil partnership has been dissolved.

The fee for giving each notice of marriage is £35.00.

Do I need an appointment to give a notice of civil partnership?

Yes, if you wish to give a notice of civil partnership at Kingston Register Office you can make an appointment to see us by using our online diary or by telephone on 020 8547 4600.

Where can I Register a Civil Partnership in Kingston?

In Kingston you have the choice of registering your civil partnership at 35 Coombe Road, Kingston upon Thames or at one of our Approved Premises which include:

• Warren House, Warren Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7HY
• Glenmore House, 6 The Crescent, Surbiton, KT6 4BN
• Kingston Lodge Hotel, Kingston Hill, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7NP
• Lovekyn Chapel, Kingston Grammar School, 70 London Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 6PY
• Antoinette Hotel, Beaufort Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2TQ
• Holiday Inn Chessington, Leatherhead Road, Chessington, KT9 2NE
• Coombe Hill Golf Club, Golf Club Drive, Coombe Lane West, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7DF
• Ravens Ait Island, Portsmouth Road, Surbiton, KT6 1RP

To register your civil partnership in one of the above approved premises you will need to make arrangements with the venue and then contact us at Kingston Register Office to book a Registrar to attend your registration. In addition, you will both have to give your notices of civil partnership in person to the register office for the district where you live.

You can, if you prefer, register your civil partnership in any other approved premises or register office in England and Wales. Details of other approved premises or register office in England and Wales can be found by following the General Register Office website link below.

Your Civil Partnership Registration at 35 Coombe Road

If you wish to register your civil partnership at 35 Coombe Road we can offer you either a simple signing of the legal documents in front of your two witnesses, or we can provide a ceremony at no extra cost, where you can celebrate your special day by repeating vows to each other and exchanging rings.

We can promise you a relaxed and friendly approach to our civil partnership registrations and will be pleased to offer you any advice that you may need.

We have an attractive garden for photographs, a lovely waiting area for guests and a tasteful ceremony room. There are some car parking spaces at the front of the building and disabled access to the front and rear of the building.

What fees do I have to pay?

The fees payable from 1st April 2012 are as follows:

Advanced Bookings

Provisional bookings up to a year in advance for Civil Partnership Registrations can be made

in writing or in person to:

The Register Office
35 Coombe Road
Kingston upon Thames
KT2 7BA.

Email reg@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Fax: 020 8547 6188

If you would like to speak to a member of staff about the availability of dates or to book an appointment to give a notice of partnership please telephone 020 8547 4600

Further Information

Further details about Civil Partnerships can also be found at the Directgov and Home Office Equalities links below.