Civil Partnerships

Arranging a Civil Partnership Ceremony

The Civil Partnership Act 2004, which applies throughout the UK, came into force on 5 December 2005 and the following notes will guide you through the necessary legal formalities.

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 does not set out a legally prescribed form of ceremony to be used at the time of the registration of Civil Partnerships in Scotland but if you would like a ceremony to form part of the registration of your Civil Partnership, the Registrar will be able to suggest a form of words that may be used. Please see the sample ceremony (22kb).

A Civil Partnership registration or ceremony may be held at a Registration Office or one of our Approved Venues.

A registration or ceremony held within a Registration Office can be conducted during normal office hours on weekdays and by arrangement on Saturday afternoons.

Registrations or ceremonies held at Approved Venues can be conducted seven days a week and on public holidays (excluding 25th and 26th of December, 1st and 2nd of January) between 9.00am and 7.00pm.

When you have decided on a date and venue for your ceremony, contact the appropriate Registration Office to check availability.

Bookings may be made by contacting the appropriate Registration Office.

Wherever possible, we will make arrangements for you to meet the Registrar, when you may discuss various options to personalise your registration or ceremony by altering wording or by including special music, poetry or readings.

Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact any of the Registration Offices listed.

Formalities before your Registration

Approximately 4-6 weeks before your Civil Partnership Registration, both parties should complete Civil Partnership Notice Forms (Form CP10). These forms must be submitted, along with birth certificates to the Registration Office for the district where your registration is to take place. Certain other documentation must also be submitted if either you or your partner has already been married or previously registered as a Civil Partner, or is a foreign national.

If you are outside the British Isles the Registrar may ask to see your valid passport or other document allowing you to be in the country.

From 1 February 2005, if you are visiting the UK to have your Civil Partnership registered and you are a citizen of a country that is not a member of the European Economic Area, you will need to apply for a visa before you travel. If you do not get a visa, the registrar will not be able to accept your Civil Partnership Registration notice and you will not be able to register your Civil Partnership in the UK. Obtaining a visa should be straightforward. For more information visit the UK Visas website at www.ukvisas.gov.uk/guidance click on "Visitors" or contact your nearest British Embassy, Consulate or High Commission for advice.

If you are already in the UK, and you are a citizen of a country that is not a member of the European Economic Area, you will need the approval of the Home Secretary to register your Civil Partnership. This will be provided in the form of a certificate of approval. For more information visit the Home Office website at www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk or call the Immigration and Nationality Enquiry Bureau on 0870 606 7766, or write to Immigration & Nationality Directorate, Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon, CR9 2BY.

The registrar also requires the full names and addresses of the two persons, who must be aged 16 years or over, acting as witnesses to your Civil Partnership Registration. Civil Partnership Registration Notice Forms and Civil Partnership Witness Information forms may be downloaded or obtained from any Registration Office in Scotland.

When submitting the completed forms, they must be accompanied by both of your birth certificates and any other appropriate documentation.

If you have any queries or require assistance in completing the Civil Partnership Registration Notice Forms, please do not hesitate to contact any South Ayrshire Council Registration Office, where staff will be only too happy to assist.