Civil Partnership: Step by Step
Follow our step-by-step guide to forming a civil partnership in Cambridgeshire. If you can't find what you're looking for on this page you might find what you want in our FAQs. More general information about formation can be found on GOV.UK
1. Book your Formation
You can only book online if you intend to hold your formation from Tuesday, January 18, 2022
If you intend to have your formation in an Approved Venue you must have discussed dates and times with them before booking our services
2. Notices of Civil Partnership
Notice of Civil Partnership is a legal requirement where you book an appointment to see a registrar with documents to prove your identity. You can give notice up to 12 months before the date of your ceremony but we would recommend that you do so 4-6 months before your big day. Delaying your notice appointment further could mean that your ceremony date will need to change in the event that you are unable to secure an appointment at short notice or are unable to complete your notices and need to re-book because you did not have the required documents.
Click here to find out how to book your notice(s), the original documents you'll need to bring to your appointment(s) and any additional fees that apply.
3. Plan Your Day
Find out how to personalise your formation. A ceremony for a civil partnership formation is optional . If you do not require a ceremony please can you email us the names of your witnesses before the ceremony.
Click here if you are forming your civil partnership in a Ceremony Room
Click here if you are forming your civil partnership in an Approved Venue
4. Your Certificates
The law means that the details of your civil partnership are recorded on a civil partnership ‘schedule’ or in some cases ‘document’, signed by you, your witnesses and the officiant. This is simply a pre-printed A4 piece of paper.
Details from the completed civil partnership 'schedule' or 'document' will be entered on the electronic register within 7 days of your schedule or document being received at the register office, in the area where you got married. In the case of religious ceremonies, it may first take up to 21 days for your paperwork to be received at our offices.
A civil partnership certificate can only be issued after the details have been entered on to the electronic register. This means that you will not be able to obtain a civil partnership certificate on the day of your civil partnership. This applies whether you have a civil or religious ceremony / formation.
If you have paid for certificates already these will be posted posted via second class Royal Mail (currently post is then taking 2-3 weeks to then be delivered).
If you have not paid for certificates, or have any other questions about certificates (including when they will be received), please see the "certificates" section of our Frequently Asked Questions.
5. Convert Your Civil Partnership to a Marriage
Information about converting a same sex civil partnership into a marriage can be found on GOV.UK here