Civil Partnerships
A Civil Partnership is formed between two people of the same sex who register their partnership to gain legal recognition of their relationship. It is a legal requirement that the couple are over 16 years.
The partnership will provide same sex couples with the same legal benefits as married couples. It will not, however be recognised as a marriage, but as a Civil Partnership.
Registering your partnership will benefit you and your partner in a variety of ways. There are many legal advantages to registering a partnership and more information is available from the http://www.gro.gov.uk/ website.
There is a standard fee for the partnership. Please contact Solihull Register Office for further information on 0121 704 6099.
You will need to make an appointment at the Register Office for the area where you live, to give notice of your intention to register your partnership. Once this has been given it will be displayed on the noticeboard at the Register Office for 15 clear days for any legal objections to be realised. If no objections are made the Schedule will be issued and the ceremony arrangements can proceed.
The Civil Partnership can either take place at a Register Office or in one of the many venues licensed to hold civil ceremonies. These venues are approved by the local authority.
Arranging Your Ceremony
You can choose to have a formal ceremony or you and your witnesses can decide to sign the formal document without a ceremony. Please discuss your choice with the Registration Team.
If you wish to hold your Civil Partnership in a licensed venue other than one located in the district in which you live this is possible, but you will still need to give a notice of partnership in the district in which you live.
You can discuss these arrangements with the Solihull Register Office. It is important to note that if you decide to have a ceremony, the choice of ceremony and any additional words will have to be discussed with the Registrar.
Legal Requirements
Overseas Partnerships
If the Civil Partnership ceremony is held overseas the declaration must meet the Civil Partnership Act of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. For further details and to confirm this requirement schedule 20 of the Act sets out which overseas relationships are eligible. You can confirm this by visiting http://www.gro.gov.uk/.
If that relation meets the requirements of the Civil Partnership Act you will not need to register in the UK as well.
Civil Partnerships in England and Wales
You both have to give notice at least fifteen clear days before the registering ca take place. This must be at the Register Office for the area where you live. You will also need to produce certain documents such as birth certificates; check with us in advance.