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The Civil Partnership Act 2004 comes into force from December 2005. The
Act gives same-sex couples the right to register their partnership and
for the first time receive legal recognition and similar rights to heterosexual
couples.
These pages provide you with some information on how to register your
partnership, the legal implications, your rights and responsibilities
and relevant local contacts. If you require further information please
contact NLGBA for an information pack or contact your local register office
directly.
If you have already decided to register your partnership NLGBA would
love to hear from you so we can gauge local interest. We have also received
many requests from the local press and the BBC for couples who would be
willing to have their story featured. Please contact
us if you feel like sharing your celebrations.
Click the links below to find out more:
How to register a civil partnership
The Legal Bit
Local Info and contacts
Who can register?
To be able to register a partnership a couple must be:
- of the same sex
- 16 or over (with consent if under 18)
- Not already married or in a civil partnership
- Not closely related (e.g. parent, sister, niece, uncle etc.)
- People subject to immigration control need to give notice at a designated
Register Office and have received entry clearance and a Home Office
certificate of approval
Before the registration
There are a few things you need to think about before your registration:
- Contact your local Register Office for info and advice and to discuss
your plans (see local info and contacts)
- Decide where the registration will take place.
You can register in any approved venue such as a Register Office, hotel,
stately home but not at a religious venue. You can choose any approved
venue in the UK but be sure to contact the local authority for the area
before you give notice.
- Set the date. If you are registering at an approved venue remember
to make sure the registrar can attend on that day.
- Arrange to give notice of your intention to register. Notice is valid
for one year.
Both parties have to give notice at least 15 clear days before the date
of registering. You must give notice to the Register Office for the
area in which you have lived for the 7 days before giving notice, even
if the actual registration is happening elsewhere. You will need certain
ID documents when you give notice. There will be a fee for giving notice
and for the registration, these vary depending on the venue.
- Decide who will witness your registration, two people are required.
Getting Registered
What will happen at the registration?
- Registrations can legally happen between 8am and 6pm in an approved
venue.
- Registration will take place in the presence of a Civil Partnership
Registrar and two witnesses of your choice.
- A Civil Partnership is formed when both of you have signed the relevant
document.
- Some Registration Services, such as Northamptonshire, also offer a
ceremony surrounding these formalities including readings and exchanges
of rings etc. You should discuss these options with the registrar.
- While you are not allowed any religious content during the registration
or ceremony you may like to arrange a separate blessing conducted by
your local, gay-friendly religious leader.
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The Civil Partnehip Act means that registered couples will have new legal
status as ”registered Civil Partners” . With this legal status
comes a number of of rights and responsibilities. These include:
- Recognition for immigration, nationality and life insurance purposes
- Treated as spouses for tax purposes
- Entitlement to income-related benefits and tax credits will take into
account civil partners and cohabiting partners
- Similar pension rights including survivor benefits currently available
to widows and widowers
- Recognition as next of kin for medical purposes
- The right to employment perks and benefits available for spouses e.g.
private health insurance
If one partner dies the surviving partner will:
- Be recognised under inheritance rules.
- Have tenancy succession rights.
- Be eligible for bereavement benefits and compensation for fatal accidents
or criminal injury.
- Have the right to life assurance
With regards to children, partners are:
- Able to acquire parental responsibility for a child on the same basis
as a step-parent
- Entitled to make a residence or contact application should the partnership
end
- Able to apply to adopt a child jointly
- Required to provide maintenance for each other and any children of
the relationship
- Treated the same way as married or cohabiting couples for Child Support
A civil partnership can only be ended by:
- Death
- Annulment - specific situations e.g. where valid consent was not given
- Dissolution- essentially a divorce that must have proven grounds and
may involve court decisions concerning maintenance, property and pensions
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There are 7 registration districts in Northamptonshire each with its
own Register Office. The Head Office for Civil Partnerships is Kettering
Register Office. The designated office for those subject to immigration
control is Northampton Register Office.
- Corby
The Old Stables, Cottingham Road. Tel: 01536 203141
- Daventry
Coucil Offices, Lodge Road. Tel: 01327 302209
- Kettering
10 London Road. Tel: 01536 514792
- Northampton
Guildhall. Tel: 01604 745396
- Oundle and Thrapston
The Old Courthouse, Mill Road, Oundle. Tel: 01832 273413
- Towcester and Brackley
Sunny Banks, 55 Brackley Road, Towcester. Tel: 01327 350774
- Wellinborough
Council Offices, Swanspool House. Tel: 01933 231549
Visit the NCC Registration Services web pages here
for more information.
For a list of approved venues accross the county click here
then select 'civil weddings'.
For local info on adoption visit the NCC webpages here.
General Contacts
For general info on Civil Partnerships and legal rights and responsibilities
etc visit
Visit the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website here
for queries about immigration matters.
Contact your local tax office or visit the Inland Revenue site here
for queries about tax issues.
Telephone the Benefit Enquiry Line 0800
882200 or Tax Credits Helpline 0845
300 3900 for more info concerning benefits.
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