Civil Partnerships

Civil Partnership Ceremonies

Civil Partnership Ceremonies are carried out by the Registrar. They can take place in a Registration Office or in another approved venue.

See: Approved Places for Civil Partnerships.

What is a Civil Partnership?

A Civil Partnership is a legal relationship between two people who register as civil partners. You can register if:

neither person is already married or in a civil partnership
both are 18 or over on the day of the ceremony (if aged 16 or 17, consent is required)
you are not closely related in a way that would prevent a partnership

Booking your Civil Partnership Ceremony

You can make a provisional booking by calling the Registration Office in the district where you want to have your ceremony. This will reserve the date, time, and Registrar until your official notice is received.

If you prefer, you can book directly by submitting the required forms and documents.

Giving Notice

You can give official notice within 12 months of your ceremony date.

Before your ceremony, both partners must complete a Civil Partnership Notice Form and provide certain documents. These forms can be found at: www.nidirect.gov.uk/gro

Documents You Need

Each partner must provide:

Full (long) birth certificate
Passport or national ID card (the Registrar can advise if you don’t have one)
Consent form (if aged 16 or 17)
Divorce or annulment certificate if previously married (must be final, not provisional)
Court order of dissolution if a previous civil partnership ended
Death certificate if a previous spouse or partner has died
All documents must be in English. If not, you must provide an official translation.

Submitting Your Forms

You can send your completed notice forms and documents by:

Email: [email protected]

Post:

Registration Department, Newry Town Hall, Bank Parade, Newry, BT35 6HR
Downshire Civic Centre, Ardglass Road, Downpatrick, BT30 6GQ

Please do not post original documents.

Payment options:

Cheque (payable to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council)

Debit or credit card (by phone on 0330 137 4041)

Once the Registration Office receives both notice forms, payment, and documents, the 28-day notice period begins. The earliest possible date for your ceremony will be 28 days later, depending on availability.

Extra Information

If you are a non-EEA citizen, please read the NI Direct guide on having a Civil Partnership in Northern Ireland for more information.

For questions or advice, contact:

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 0330 137 4041