Registration Service

Marriages, Civil Weddings and Civil Partnerships - Arrangement and Ceremony

Civil partnerships

The legal registration of a partnership between 2 people of the same sex, came into force on 5 December 2005. This means that they will have same rights in law as married couples.

The legal requirements to enter into a civil partnership will be exactly the same as for 2 people entering a marriage, that is over the age of 16 years (parental consent required if under 18), and legally free to enter into the partnership. In other words, not already married or in a registered partnership with someone else.

The preliminaries about notice will be the same as marriage, but there will be no requirement for the couple to have a ceremony. The couple will attend with 2 witnesses before a registrar in order to register their partnership.

The Registration Service here in Barking and Dagenham is offering couples the opportunity to celebrate their registration with family and friends at a bespoke ceremony conducted at Arden House, or any of the approved venues in the borough, at which time they will be presented with a commemorative certificate signed by the couple, their witnesses and the celebrant.