You can convert your civil partnership into marriage at any registration office in Lincolnshire.
Currently, only same-sex couples in a civil partnership may convert their relationship into a marriage. You cannot convert an opposite-sex civil partnership to a marriage in England and Wales.
The process converts one legal relationship (civil partnership) into another (marriage).
Once the civil partnership is converted into a marriage, the civil partnership ends and the couple is treated as having been married since the date the civil partnership was formed.
You are not required to give notice, provide witnesses, or recite statutory words as part of the conversion process.
The conversion process can be completed in one of two ways:
- The completion and signing of a declaration at one of our registry offices
- The Completion of a declaration at one of our registry offices, followed by a ceremony where you will sign the declaration, allowing you to celebrate with family and friends
Requirements
You must both attend an appointment together and produce the following documents for the completion of the declaration:
- your original civil partnership certificate, and
- proof of identity for each of you; this can be a current valid passport or United Kingdom (UK) driving licence with a photograph, and
- proof of your address in one of the following forms:
- a utility bill dated within three months of your appointment
- bank or building society statement dated within one month of your appointment
- council tax bill dated within one year of your appointment
- valid UK driving licence
Provide all of the required documents to complete your conversion.
Conversion options
There are two routes to convert a Civil Partnership to a marriage:
Conversion Appointment only
This is a simple one-stage process to convert your civil partnership to a marriage that can be completed by appointment at any of our Registration Offices.
The appointment should take about half an hour, and both civil partners must attend with all the required documents.
The declaration will be prepared and then immediately signed by both of you in the presence of the superintendent registrar, who will also sign to complete your conversion.
Conversion Appointment with Ceremony
This is a two stages process, the preparation of the declaration at a registry office and the signing of the declaration at a different location or time.
The first stage is the preparation of your declaration in readiness for signing. This can be completed by appointment at any of our Registration Offices. Both civil partners must attend together with all the required documents. Once prepared, the declaration must then be signed within 12 months of the preparation date.
The second stage is signing the declaration and completing your conversion. Both civil partners must attend together with a superintendent registrar, but you have the option to complete your signing at one of the following locations:
- a registration office
- An approved ceremony venue
- a religious building where same-sex marriages are allowed
A Superintendent Registrar must be present at all venues.
Ceremony Fees
If you want to complete the declaration and sign it at your initial appointment, there is a fee of £45.
If you want to complete the declaration at an appointment but sign the declaration at a ceremony, there is a fee of £27 at the initial appointment plus a ceremony fee.
At a registration office, our ceremony fees are:
- £220 - Monday to Thursday
- £235 - Friday and Saturday
At a licensed venue, our ceremony fees are:
- £410 - Monday to Thursday
- £450 - Friday and Saturday
Our fee for a registrar to attend a religious building is £91.
Marriages certificates are £11 each.
A marriage certificate will be sent to you once the details of the signed declaration have been recorded in our system.
The certificate will indicate that your marriage should be treated as having existed from the date of your civil partnership and shows the conversion date.
Book your appointment
To book an appointment to complete a conversion into marriage, please get in touch with us.