Conducting a civil partnership declaration ceremony

The couple must lodge a notice of intention to enter into a civil partnership and any certified supporting documents to you.  They must also send a copy to us.

You must provide each partner with the written notice setting out the legal effect of a civil partnership to read prior to the declaration ceremony.

After lodging their notice of intention, the couple may choose a date for their declaration ceremony that is:

• at least 10 clear full days later
• less than 12 months later.

For example, if you are given the notice of intention on the 1st day of a month, the earliest the declaration ceremony could be held would be the 12th day of that month.

Fill out and print the declaration of civil partnership form before the ceremony, so the couple can sign it on the day.

You may wish to provide the couple with a ceremonial declaration certificate. The declaration certificate cannot be used for legal purposes.

You must lodge the following with us within 14 days after the ceremony:

• the couple's signed notice of intention to enter into a civil partnership
• the signed declaration of civil partnership form.

The couple can order an official civil partnership certificate from us and pay the fee.