Civil Partnership Act 2004
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
Before you can enter into a civil partnership there are a number of legal requirements that must be satisfied.
By law each partner is required to give a legal notice which is a formal declaration of their intention to enter into a civil partnership. This must be done in person - a friend or relative or other agent is unable to do this on your behalf.
Giving notice of civil partnership
Both partners must give notice of civil partnership to the Register Office in the district where you live. You must have lived in the district at least seven days before giving notice. There is a standard fee payable.
You may choose to have your civil partnership at any register office within England and Wales, or at an venue that has been approved by the local authority for holding ceremonies. If you were to change the venue to somewhere other than as stated in your notice, it will be necessary to give and pay for fresh notices.
There are documents you are required to show at the time of giving notice.
How much notice is required
You cannot give a Notice of Civil Partnership more than one year before the planned date of the ceremony/formation. Your civil partnership cannot be registered until 16 days after you have given the notice.
Provisional bookings
If you wish to make a provisional booking to hold your ceremony and registration with Salford please telephone 0161-909 6501 to make an appointment. This will enable you to secure a day and time and plan for your special day in advance.
Fees
Notice of Civil Partnership - £30.00 per partner. Formation/Ceremony at the Register Office - £43.50 (including one certificate).
Appointments
It will be necessary to make an appointment to give your Notice of Civil Partnership at Salford Register Office. Please telephone 0161-909 6501 to arrange a convenient time.
Legal implications of civil partnerships
You can find out more on civil partnerships, including a schedule of frequently-asked questions from the Women and Equality Unit.
Who to contact
- Name
- Salford Register Officer
- Address
- Salford Civic Centre
Chorley Road
Swinton
Salford
M27 5AW - Telephone
- 0161-909 6501
- birthsanddeaths1@salford.gov.uk
This page was last updated on 29 February 2008
Bookmark this page using:
Find out more about social bookmarking.
These sites allow you to store, tag and share links across the internet. You can share these links both with friends and people with similar interests. You can also access your links from any computer you happen to be using.
If you come across a page on our site that you find interesting and want to save for future reference or share it with other people, simply click on one of these links to add to your list.
All of these sites are free to use but do require you to register. Once you have registered you can begin bookmarking. Each of the sites works slightly differently so use the links below to find out which service best suits your needs.
Find out more about social bookmarking at Wikipedia.
