South Ayrshire Council - News - Civil Partnership Registration

CIVIL PARTNERSHIP REGISTRATION

In December 2005 same sex civil partnerships, as outlined in the Civil Partnership Act 2004, will come into force and plans are already under way in South Ayrshire to implement the new legislation.

Same sex partnerships will be officially recognised when both partners, two witnesses and an authorised registrar have signed a Partnership Schedule in an approved venue.

Convener of South Ayrshire Council’s Community Safety Committee, Councillor Douglas Campbell said: “South Ayrshire Council is keen to ensure that arrangements are in place for same sex couples who wish to formally register their partnership as from December 2005.

“The Act will allow this Council, along with other local authorities, to offer people the choice to be able to be registered as civil partners at a registration office, or any other location that is an “approved place” for marriage.

“There will be no requirement for same sex partners to exchange vows, as is required in a civil wedding ceremony, however it is anticipated that many people will wish to make the ceremony a special event for themselves, their friends and relatives.”

The General Registration Office in Scotland, in consultation with representatives of COSLA, is preparing the following:

A form of words that can be used by registrars during the registration of a civil partnership
A publicity leaflet along the lines of “Marriage in Scotland”
The regulation that will allow local authorities to charge fees for performing the Registration
A new module on the Forward Electronic Register system, to allow civil partnerships to be recorded on the central database and registration documents to be easily produced
The prescribed forms which are necessary for the registration.
A section for the Registrars’ Handbook.

The Registrar General is required to appoint Registrars and Assistant Registrars as persons who may carry registration, and unlike authorisation for civil marriages, there is no age requirement for authorised registrars. The Registrar General requires the Council to submit a list of all registrars that it wishes to be authorised and this has already been compiled.

The Council currently has a fee structure for civil marriage within Registration Offices and approval procedures and a fee structure for civil marriage outwith and it is proposed that the same procedures and fee structure be replicated for civil partnership.

Anyone who would like further information about civil ceremonies carried out by South Ayrshire Council and venues should log onto the Council’s website at www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/council/registrationandbereavement.htm

July 2005