The Ceremony
Civil Partnership is a legal relationship formed by two people of the same sex. It gives same sex couples the ability to obtain legal recognition for their relationship. Couples who form a civil partnership will have a new legal status of "Civil Partner". Same sex couples who form a civil partnership will have the same rights as married couples for a range of legal matters.
You may choose to register your civil partnership simply, without a ceremony in the Register Office if you wish in the presence of a Civil Partnership Registrar and your two witnesses. Alternatively, you may have a ceremony with guests, in the Register Office. Or you may have a ceremony in one of the Approved Premises| in Gateshead.
The legal notices last twelve calendar months and you must give notice in the area where you live. The Registrar in the area where your ceremony is taking place will issue the Civil Partnership Schedule, which is the legal document that you will be asked to sign on the day of the formation of your partnership.
On the day, you will be asked to check this document and to sign it in the presence of your two witnesses, and the Civil Partnership registrar, having read the legal declaration.
The Words
You are not required to say any legal words; however we will be pleased to include a ceremony and can offer some choices of words. Here are some examples of words you could say:
'I …………………….… Pledge to share my life openly with ……………………… I promise to cherish and tenderly care for you, to honour and encourage you. I will respect you as an individual and be true to you through good times and bad. To these things I give you my Word.'
or
'…………………. I choose you above all others, to share my life. I promise to honour this pledge as long as I live.'