The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into operation on 5 December 2005 and allows same-sex couples to register as civil partners of each other. This is called a Partnership Registration and takes the form of the signing of a schedule in front of a Registrar and two witnesses.

Civil partnership registration is an entirely secular process, and the Civil Partnership Act prevents any religious service from taking place during the registration of a Civil Partnership. Couples who wish to arrange for a ceremony to take place at the time of registration should discuss this with the Superintendent Registrar at the time of making the booking. The ceremony may include an exchange of vows, the giving of rings, readings, poetry or music.

A Civil Partnership can be registered in England and Wales in a Register Office or at an approved premises.

There are five Register Offices in West Sussex where Civil Partnerships are conducted. These are situated in Chichester, Crawley, Haywards Heath, Horsham and Worthing. West Sussex has over 80 Approved Venues. Please contact us if you require a list of these venues.

Provisional bookings will be accepted twelve months in advance of your proposed Registration.

Before you enter into a Civil partnership you must both give notice of your intention to enter into a Partnership. This must be done at any office within the local authority in which you live, or have lived for the preceding seven days. The notice will be displayed on the notice board of the Superintendent Registrar for 15 clear days before the schedule can be issued and the Registration can take place.

When you give notice to the Superintendent Registrar they will require specific documentation:


• A valid passport or birth certificate
• Proof of address
• If you have been married previously you will need a Decree Absolute if you are divorced or a Death Certificate if your previous partner is deceased.
• Dissolution of Civil Partnership documentation
• Any change of name documents

The statutory fee for Notice of Civil Partnership is £30.00 per person.
The Civil Partnership cost at a Register Office is £40.00
A Civil Partnership at an Outside Licensed Venue is

£315.00 for a weekday
£330.00 for a Friday
£385.00 for a Saturday
£410.00 for a Sunday and Bank Holidays

Some venues may charge additional fees. You will need to consider the cost of hiring the venue too.

The Partnership certificate will be sent to you within 10 days of your Registration.