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If you wish to register your civil partnership, legally you must declare your freedom to do so. You each have to give your notice at your local Register Office. This can only be done within twelve months of the date of your ceremony. You each have to attend in person, normally together but you can attend separately if this will be easier (if you each live in different registration authorities, then you would only attend your own office). Most Register Offices, including our own, work on an appointment system (we can provide the phone numbers, addresses and opening times of any Register Office in England and Wales).
At the time of giving notice we need to see certain documentation. A birth certificate and current passport are preferred, as well as a proof of your current address (eg bank statement, utility bill, rent card). If you have been previously married or registered a civil partnership we need to see evidence of how that marriage or civil partnership ended. This could be a Decree Absolute with an official County Court stamp, or if you are widowed or a surviving civil partner then the death certificate of your late spouse/civil partner. If it was your late husband and you were not the informant, then we would also need your marriage certificate. If you have changed your name other than through marriage, civil partnership or adoption, it would be helpful to provide any evidence you have, such as a change of name deed (deed poll) or a statutory declaration. We will also require the current fee, which is £30 for each notice.
The notices will be displayed publicly on the following day in the Register Office reception area, and will remain there for 15 days (the information displayed will include your full names, dates of birth, sex, occupation, civil partnership venue, but not your addresses). This gives anyone visiting the Register Office the chance to object if they knew of some legal reason why you shouldn't be able to register your civil partnership. On the sixteenth day the schedules (i.e. authorities) for the civil partnership to be registered can be issued. You must request their issue by contacting the Register Office for the area where your venue is located.
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