Civil partnerships
Overview
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.