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Marriage, civil partnerships and cohabitation

There is a lot of information and advice available on the practical and legal issues surrounding getting married, living together and civil partnerships (for same-sex couples).

Marriage

nidirect has useful information about getting married in Northern Ireland. It includes a listing of venues where you can get married here, documents you need, fees and how you can order your certificates. It also gives details on the residential and legal requirements for marriage, and what you need to do if you discover an error on your marriage certificate.

If you are looking for a copy of your marriage certificate, this can be ordered online or through the Register Office or religious building where the marriage took place. Local Register Offices also hold their own records of all events registered in their area.

Civil partnership

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 enables same-sex couples to obtain legal recognition of their relationship. Couples who form a civil partnership have a new legal status, that of 'civil partner'.

Civil partners have equal treatment to married couples in a wide range of legal matters, including:

  • tax, including inheritance tax
  • employment benefits
  • most state and occupational pension benefits
  • income-related benefits, tax credits and child support
  • duty to provide reasonable maintenance for your civil partner and any children of the family
  • ability to apply for parental responsibility for your civil partner's child
  • inheritance of a tenancy agreement
  • recognition under intestacy rules
  • access to fatal accidents compensation
  • protection from domestic violence
  • recognition for immigration and nationality purposes

In order to form a civil partnership you must first ‘give notice’. This involves stating your intention to register a civil partnership to your registration authority. Once given, your notices are publicised by the registration authority for a period of 15 days. A civil partnership can be formed at a Register Office or approved premises.

nidirect has detailed information on the process and costs of forming a civil partnership - and you can order your certificates online.

Co-habitation - living together

Co-habitants are now given legal protection in several areas. However, they and their families have significantly fewer rights and responsibilities than their counterparts who are married or who have formed a civil partnership.

Most people think that after they've been living with their partner for a couple of years, they become 'common law husband and wife' with the same rights as married couples. This is not the case. In fact, couples who live together have hardly any of the same rights as married couples or civil partners.

There is no such thing as 'common law marriage'.

If you are living together as a couple, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your partner.

There are also ways to minimise the legal and financial problems which may arise if, as can happen, you decide to separate, or if one of you dies.

Divorce and separation

There is information and advice available on divorce and separation in the parents section of nidirect.

You can also visit the website of the Northern Ireland Courts Service to get more information about matrimonial services.

More useful links