Any two persons, regardless of where they live, may enter into a civil partnership in Northern Ireland provided that:
- They are both of the same sex
- Neither of them are already a civil partner or lawfully married
- They are over 16 – persons over 16 years and under 18 years of age require parental consent
- they are not within prohibited degrees of relationship
Documentation Needed
The Registrar needs to see documents that prove your age, nationality and identity.
- Full birth certificate (long version)
- Passport or identity card
- If you have been in a civil partnership previously and it has been dissolved, you need to provide a certificate of Dissolution of Civil Partnership.
- If you have been married before and the marriage was dissolved, you need to provide a certificate of decree absolute – a decree of divorce granted either in or outside of Northern Ireland must be absolute or final. A decree nisi is not acceptable
- If you are divorced and you have retained your maiden name, you need to provide your previous marriage certificate
- If you are a widow or widower, you need to provide the death certificate of your former spouse
- If you are the surviving partner of a civil partnership, you need to provide the death certificate of your former civil partner
Civil Partnership Notice Forms
These forms, which give formal ‘notice’ to the Registrar of your intent to form a partnership, must be completed by you and your partner.
Civil Partnership Notice Form
They are valid for 12 months from the date of notice. This means you must tell us about your plans in the 12 month period before your civil partnership registration, and no later than 14 days before it takes place.
Notice forms should be returned to the Registrar of the district in which you intend to register your partnership, along with the relevant documents.
Civil Partnership Schedule
When the Registrar is satisfied there is no legal impediment to the civil partnership registration, a Civil Partnership Schedule will be prepared from the information which the couple have supplied.
The Registrar will ensure that the Civil Partnership Schedule is available for signature at the civil partnership registration.
A fee of £40.00 is payable for serving Notice of Civil Partnership together with additional fees for the ceremony and hire of the ceremony room. Contact the Registrar’s Office for details.
Civil Partnership Certificate
After the civil partnership registration you can obtain a copy of the civil partnership certificate from the Registrar on payment of the appropriate fee.
