Civil Partnership
You have two options when you book to form a civil partnership at Sutton Register Office:
- a statutory appointment
- to combine the signing with a ceremony
Check that a civil partnership is right for you
You should check the differences between marriage and civil partnership in England and Wales for same-sex and opposite-sex couples, to make sure a civil partnership meets your needs as a couple.
Before you book your civil partnership
To give notice of your intention to form a civil partnership, you will need to decide:
- what type of ceremony you’d like
- how many people you would like to attend
- if you’d like a Registrar to conduct a ceremony for you
You need to know this information before your appointment to give notice, as you can’t amend the notice afterward.
Planning your ceremony
There are 3 options for holding your ceremony:
- The Oaks at Sutton Civic Offices, which can accommodate up to 50 guests
- The Lavender Room at Sutton Civic, which can hold up to 10 guests
- The Drawing Room at the Honeywood Museum
Statutory appointment
If you are both Sutton residents, you can arrange a statutory appointment that fulfils the legal obligations of forming a civil partnership:
- only two guests can attend (they will act as your witnesses)
- no provision for music or any other extras
- the schedule will be signed in front of your two witnesses
- appointments usually take place on a weekday morning
Full ceremony
You can choose to book a full ceremony to follow the signing of the schedule at the statutory appointment.
Other guests can be invited and you can include music and readings.
Read more about our ceremony rooms.
Civil Partnership Conversion to Marriage
If you are a same-sex couple, you can convert your Civil Partnership to Marriage.
You can do this at the Register Office in Sutton. Call us on 020 8770 6790 for more information please complete our enquiry form.
The conversion can take place at any Register Office in England and Wales, it doesn't have to be the same place where the civil partnership was formed.
Opposite-sex civil partnerships can’t be converted to marriage in England and Wales.
What you’ll need to do
The conversion process is administrative. You’ll need to book an appointment to come to the Register Office during office hours to sign a ‘conversion into marriage declaration’.
You don’t need to have a ceremony, guests or witnesses.
What you need to bring
You’ll each need to bring the following original documents:
- a valid passport or birth certificate
- proof of any name changes
- proof of address (for example, a copy of a council tax bill or bank statement)
- your civil partnership certificate
Ceremonies
If you’d like to follow the conversion process with a ceremony, this can take place in one of our ceremony rooms.
Certificates
After the conversion process has been completed, you will receive your certificate. You can purchase as many certificates as you like.
Celebrations at a later date
If you choose to have a separate celebration sometime after the conversion appointment, certificates can be presented or signed at the ceremony. There is an additional fee of £27.00 for this.
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