Civil partnerships
The first same-sex civil partnerships were formed in December 2005. Prior to entering into a partnership you need to give formal notice of your intention and make an appointment to register.How to give notice
If you live in Croydon, both you and your partner will need to give legal notice to Croydon Council of your intended partnership to Croydon Council. You should, at the time of giving notice, have been resident in Croydon for the previous seven days.
If you live outside Croydon, you will need to contact your local council. Please note that the same residence rules apply and you will need to have lived in that borough for at least seven days.
If one of you is subject to immigration control, you must both attend a designated register office (Croydon Register Office is a designated register office) to give legal notice on your intended partnership. We will also need to see your passports so that we can check your identity and nationality. You must also supply proof of residence, such as a utility bill, council tax bill, bank statement or other official document.
If either of you has been married or been in a partnership, you will have to produce evidence that it has been dissolved.
Please note: the minimum legal age for registering a civil partnership is 16, however written consent may be required for anyone under 18.
Part of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) Act 2004 came into force from February 2005. Persons under immigration control who wish to give notice of a civil partnership on or after this date will be unable to do so unless:
They have entry clearance granted expressly for the purpose of marriage in the UK or they have the written permission of the Secretary of State to marry in the UK, in the form of a certificate of approval from the Home Office's Immigration and Nationality Department, or they fall within a class of persons specified by the Secretary of State. This will be someone with settled status in the UK (such as indefinite leave to remain).
Since February 2005, all persons under immigration control who wish to enter a civil partnership must give their notice at a designated Register Office. They must be accompanied by the person they wish to enter into a partnership with, and who must also give notice at the same time.
If you do not have a 'certificate of entitlement to Right of Abode', and you or your partner are subject to immigration control, i.e. not a citizen of one of the following countries, you may be affected by the new law:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland
Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands
Norway, Poland, Portugal
Romania
Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
For further information regarding immigration status, please telephone the Home Office on 0870 606 7766 or the visit its website.
What happens next
Notices of intended partnerships will be put on public display for a period of 15 days.
At the end of this period, the civil partnership can take place in any local authority, irrespective of where you and your partner live.
The partnership can be formed in approved premises that have previously been approved for marriages.
The registration process
Couples must attend before an authorised civil partnership officer and must sign the registration documents in the presence of two witnesses.
You may not have to say particular contractual words as part of the registration process.
It is also possible that you may not need to have a ceremony.
Civil partnership ceremony
We are keen to make civil partnerships a meaningful and significant event that can be celebrated by couples and their guests if they wish.
We will therefore be formulating a civil commitment ceremony for couples who are going through the process.
Couples will be able to customise the ceremony if they would like a more personalised celebration.
Charges
The fee for giving notice is £30.00 per person.
The fee for the partnership ceremony is £43.50.
Contact Details
- Contact name
- Croydon Register Office
- Telephone
- 020 8726 6300
- Fax
- 020 8760 5633
- register.office@croydon.gov.uk
- Address
- Croydon Register Office
Mint Walk
Croydon CR0 1EA
Opening times
Monday - Friday 9.30 am to 4.30pm.
