Civil partnerships

Couples who form a civil partnership have a new legal status, that of 'civil partner'.

The Civil Partnerships (Opposite-sex Couples) Regulations 2019, which extend eligibility for forming Civil Partnerships to opposite sex couples were approved in Parliament on 5 November 2019. The regulations come into force on 2 December 2019.

This means that opposite sex (male and female) couples will be able to form a Civil Partnership from Tuesday 31 December 2019 onwards subject to giving Notice of Civil Partnership on Monday 2 December 2019.

Notice of Civil Partnership cannot be given before Monday 2 December 2019 and if given after that date then it will mean the Civil Partnership can be formed after a minimum waiting period of 30 days.

Should you be an opposite sex couple who wishes to form a Civil Partnership please contact the Register Office on 0191 4246350 for further advice.

This new legislation does not affect the arrangements currently in place for same sex Civil Partnerships.

• To form a civil partnership a couple must first enter notice of their intention to register.
• Before entering a notice each of the couple need to have a seven day residential qualification and to give notice in the area where they live prior to the formation of their civil partnership.
• The couple must be over 18 (or provide evidence of consent if over 16), not related to each other within the prohibited degrees of relationship and not in an existing marriage or civil partnership in order to enter into a civil partnership.
• There is be a 28 day waiting period once notice of intention to register has been given, before the formation can take place.
• The civil partnership is formed once the couple have signed a schedule in the presence of a registration officer and two witnesses.

There is no requirement for a ceremony as part of the legal process of forming a civil partnership, in South Tyneside we will be delighted to offer a ceremony if required.

Civil partnerships can be formed in either a Register Office or at an approved licensed venue.

There is a statutory fee for:

• Giving the notice of partnership
• The formation of the partnership at the register office
• The formation of the partnership at an approved venue
• The partnership certificate

For a full list of prices on any of the above, please see Register Office Fees.

If you would like to make a provisional booking or if you have any questions please contact the Register Office on 0191 424 6350.

To change your civil partnership into a marriage please ring 0191 424 6350 to book an appointment with the Register Office who will advise of current fees.

The conversion process will not be a marriage ceremony. However non statutory ceremonies are available if you wish to celebrate, please see our Marriage fees page.