Convert civil partnership to marriage and marriage to civil partnership

Life event certificates in Irish and bi-lingual English and Irish

The Marriage, Civil Partnership and Civil Registration (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 came into effect on Friday 11 March. It allows certificates for new registrations to be produced with headings in Irish or bi-lingual English and Irish.

When filling in the notice form you can choose to get your certificates in English, Irish or bi-lingual English and Irish. 

All certificates produced from the registration will be in the language format chosen and cannot be changed.

The legislation applies to registrations going forward and will not apply retrospectively to life events already registered. These will continue to be available in English only.

Converting your relationship

You can convert your same sex civil partnership to a marriage if:

• you formed a civil partnership in Northern Ireland
• you formed a civil partnership abroad at a consular or embassy under the Civil Partnership (Registration Abroad and Certificates) Order 2005

or

• you formed a civil partnership abroad where at least one party had an armed forces connection under the Civil Partnership (Armed Forces) Order 2005

You can convert your opposite sex marriage to a civil partnership if:

• you solemnised a marriage in Northern Ireland
• you solemnised a marriage abroad at a consular or embassy under Part 2 of The Consular Marriages and Marriages under Foreign Law (No 2) Order 2014

or

• you solemnised a marriage abroad where at least one party had a armed forces connection under the Overseas Marriage (Armed Forces) Order 2014

Once a civil partnership is converted into a marriage or a marriage converted into a civil partnership:

• the original civil partnership or marriage ends

and

• the couple is treated as having been married or in a civil partnership since the date of the original event

The conversion converts one legal relationship into another.

Following the conversion, the couple will get a marriage or civil partnership certificate, dated from when the original relationship was formed.

Where a conversion can take place

You can convert your same sex civil partnership into a marriage at:

• a register office
• an approved venue

or

• a place in Northern Ireland by an officiant who is authorised to conduct same sex marriage

You can convert a marriage to a civil partnership at:

• a register office

 or

• an approved venue

How to convert your relationship

There are two ways you can convert your relationship:

• the standard procedure – giving the information needed and signing of the conversion declaration at a registration office on the same occasion

or

• two-stage procedure - giving the information needed to the registrar and signing of the declaration takes place at a set place and time

What you need to do

You should contact the local registration office in the district you wish the conversion of your relationship to take place.

It is important to make early arrangements with the registrar. You will both need to be at the registration office together, with the application and the evidence needed. This will be your civil partnership or marriage certificate and proof of identity.

You must contact your local registration office to arrange an appointment before attending the office. Contact details of the registrar offices are available at the following link:

• Local councils in Northern Ireland

The registrar will be able to make an appointment for you for a date from 7 December 2020 onwards.

Advise the registrar which procedure you wish to follow and where you wish the signing of the conversion declaration to take place.

The registrar will ask you to fill out an application form and will advise you how it should be sent to them. The application forms can be downloaded at the following links:

• Application form to convert a civil partnership into a marriage
• Application form to convert a marriage into a civil partnership

How much it costs

There will be no cost for the signing of the conversion declaration until 6 December 2023 after which conversions will not be able to take place.

A marriage or civil partnership certificate costs £8.00.

Councils may apply extra fees for attendance of a registrar at:

• a registration office after 5.00 pm Monday to Friday, or on a Saturday or bank holiday

or

• an approved venue

The cost of the ceremony may vary by venue and council.