How and when to give notice for civil partnership

Both parties must submit their completed civil partnership notice forms, relevant documents, declarations and fees to the Registrar of the district where the civil partnership registration is to take place.

Timing of civil partnership notice

Notice for all civil partnership registrations must be given in the twelve month period prior to the date of the civil partnership registration. The notices must be submitted early enough to enable the Registrar to be satisfied that both parties are free to enter into a civil partnership with one another.

Normally, notices should be with the Registrar about eight weeks before the civil partnership registration, but if either of you have been married before, or have entered into a previous civil partnership, the notices should be with the Registrar ten weeks before.

The minimum period is fourteen days before the date of the proposed civil partnership registration, but if you leave things as late as this you could be faced with the need to postpone your civil partnership registration.

Only in exceptional circumstances will the Registrar General authorise a civil partnership registration to take place if fourteen days notice has not been given.

The notice forms may be submitted in person or by post to the Registrar.

• Civil partnership notice form - GRO 433 (PDF 1.27 MB)
• Help with PDF files
• District Registrars in Northern Ireland