Civil partnerships

In the UK, couples can choose a civil partnership or marriage. This applies to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Registering a civil relationship gives you legal rights and duties, like in marriage.

If you are in a same-sex couple you can:

  • register your partnership (Civil Partnerships Act 2005)
  • register your marriage
  • convert your civil partnership to a marriage. This is for civil partnerships that took place before 29th March 2014.

Giving notice of civil partnership

You need to provide a notice of civil partnership. You must do this before your partnership is formed in the UK. This is a legal declaration that you and your partner must complete.

The details of your notice will be displayed at the Register office. They will be on display there for a period of 28 days. For more information, see giving notice of civil partnerships.

Convert a civil partnership into a marriage

You can convert your civil partnership into a marriage. The conversion will not be a marriage ceremony. It changes an old legal relationship. It does not make a new one. The fee for the conversion is £45.00.

Converting a civil partnership into a marriage

To convert your partnership, you and your partner must:

  • Attend an appointment with a superintendent registrar. It can be at a Register office. It can also be at other approved venues for same-sex marriages.
  • Provide proof of your identity. Provide the original civil partnership registration certificate.
  • Sign a statement. This will confirm that you have not ended your civil partnership. It states that you both wish to convert it to a marriage.

Contact our Register office to begin the process.

What happens next?

  • When you complete the conversion it will be registered online. We will issue you with a handwritten certificate.

Partnerships that can be converted into a marriage

You can convert your partnership if it was:

  • Registered in England and Wales.
  • Or, registered overseas in a consulate or armed forces base. The civil partnership must have been registered under English and Welsh law.

Partnerships that can't be converted into a marriage

You won't be able to convert your partnership into a marriage in England or Wales if:

  • Your partnership was formed outside of England and Wales. You should seek legal advice to find out the options which are available to you.
  • You are in a legal relationship which is still valid in the country the relationship was formed in. You have to be legally free to marry.

For more information visit GOV.UK or Stonewall.

Harrow Register Office

Address: The Pavilion
Perceval Square
College Road
Harrow
HA1 1GX

Telephone: 020 8901 2665