Converting civil partnership to marriage
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 provides for couples currently in a civil partnership to be able to convert this into a marriage. Under current legislation, there is no provision to convert an opposite sex civil partnership to a marriage in England and Wales. Similarly, you cannot convert a same sex or opposite sex marriage to a civil partnership.
If you wish to convert your civil partnership to marriage you will only be able to do so if your civil partnership took place in England or Wales (or overseas in a British consulate or armed forces base where it was registered according to the laws of England and Wales) on or after Monday 5 December 2005, you are in a same-sex civil partnership and as long as your civil partnership has not been dissolved.
There are two different types of civil partnership conversions: a one stage procedure and a two stage procedure.
Stage 1
- the one stage procedure is when you have a ‘conversion’ appointment in which the ‘conversion declaration’ is prepared and signed. There is no ceremony as part of Stage 1 however you may opt to say an official ‘Declaration Wording’ to each other if you so wish
- cost: £50 plus £12.50 per certificate
Stage 2
- the two stage procedure is when you have a ‘conversion’ appointment in which the ‘conversion declaration’ is prepared. On a subsequent date you then attend an approved venue where you sign the conversion declaration and have a non-legal Conversion Ceremony to celebrate your new status
- cost: £30, plus cost of ceremony, plus £12.50 per certificate
You may attend your ‘conversion’ appointment in a Register Office of your choice and this Register Office does not have to be the same one in which your civil partnership took place. This means that even if your civil partnership did not take place within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea you will still be able to have your conversion here.
When you attend your ‘conversion’ appointment both of you will need to be present and to bring with you your passports, most recent proof of your addresses and your legal civil partnership certificate. During this appointment the ‘conversion declaration’ will be prepared for signing.
Your civil partnership becomes a marriage when both of you sign the ‘conversion declaration’. This declaration confirms that you have not dissolved your civil partnership and that you both wish to convert your civil partnership into a marriage.
Once you have signed your ‘conversion declaration’ your marriage will be deemed to have existed since the date of your civil partnership.
Please note that a conversion is not a marriage ceremony, although you will be issued with a marriage certificate to confirm that your civil partnership has been converted into a marriage. If you choose the Stage 2 procedure you will be able to have a ceremony as part of your celebrations where you may say words to each other and exchange rings.
If you are using the Stage 1 procedure you will be issued your marriage certificates at the end of your ‘conversion’ appointment.
If you are using the Stage 2 procedure your marriage certificates will be available for you to collect from the Kensington and Chelsea Register Office on the next working day.
To book a conversion from a civil partnership to a marriage, please contact us at 020 7361 4100 or email us at [email protected].
