Hello again, and thank you for choosing Perfect Day as your blog destination of choice.
I was thinking about my blog and what I want to achieve from it and one aspect is to offer information and advice in one useful place, so this is what More Love in the World is about this week: Civil Partnerships, about which there is still a degree of confusion.
I don’t know about you but I was thrilled skinny (love that expression) when the Civil Partnerships Act finally became legal in December 2005 and the Press was full of same-sex couples dressed up to the nines and beaming with happiness after their ceremonies, I shed a small but perfectly-formed tear (you will find I cry at everything: weddings (naturellement), Eastenders, that John Lewis advert etc).
Why is this so good? Well....we moan about this country and quite honestly we’re far from perfect. However, I sometimes think we don’t know we’re born in terms of human rights. Try looking here and at the sheer number of red crosses, how depressing:
See what I mean? Anyway, I may be biased, but I’m chuffed that Brighton and Hove has led the way in becoming, I think, the all-time top destination for civil partnerships, not least its reputation of being the UK’s gay capital by the sea. (OK, OFFICIALLY it’s Westminster. Pffffft). Try coming to the Pride March in August and you'll see what I mean.
Legal Stuff
The passing of this new law has enhanced gay rights and also changed legal history in allowing so many couples to enjoy having their partnerships recognised by the law. This means that civil partners are entitled to the same property rights as married couples, the same social security benefits and also the ability to get parental responsibility for a partner’s children; it also means next-of-kin rights in hospital and much more robust inheritance rights.
Furthermore, we also have a Gender Recognition Act (aha, betcha didn't know that) that allows transexual people to change their legal gender, thereby enabling them to get hitched.
What? Not Married?
A partnership is formed when the second of the two parties signs the partnership papers. This is not necessarily a public ceremony (ie it can be done totally in private). In contrast, a marriage happens when the partners exchange spoken words and also sign the register.
Another important distinction is that “marriage” as a word has religious connotations, even if the ceremony is a civil one. Marriages can be conducted by Church of England clergy without any civil preliminaries being required, whereas civil partnerships are only conducted by Registrars.
As with a civil marriage, no religious elements can be incorporated into your ceremony but you can add your own readings and music if you would like to. Nice. (Ahem...this is where a wedding planner can put her creativity to work. I hear that the one with the purple website is really good).
Also, you may have heard the Government’s recent announcement that, as a passing of the Equalities Act 2010, civil ceremonies may soon take place in traditional places of worship. In the same statement the Government Equalities Office declared that they intend to move towards full equality in civil marriage – you’ll see my take on this as soon as it happens!
How To Get Civil-Partnered in the UK (my new word)
It’s easy...
1. Set a date and find a venue
2. Contact your local register office to check the availability of that date and make an appointment to give your “notice of intention” You can find info on where to register here: http://maps.direct.gov.uk/LDGRedirect/MapAction.do?ref=grolight
3. When you go there you need to produce ID and you need to provide proof that you’ve lived in the UK in a registration authority for at least 7 days prior to giving notice. Each person must give notice individually – you can’t get someone to do this on your behalf!
4. Once you’ve given notice, you’ve got a waiting period of 15 days before you can hold your ceremony and signing.
5. (Important difference: Your details will be available for public inspection, in case of objections, at the register office minus address details. Opposite-sex couples have their addresses made public. Hmmmm....interesting).
There’s not enough room here to go into the legalities but you need to make sure that you are both OK and within the law to get hitched. Yes, another link:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Registeringlifeevents/Marriagesandcivilpartnerships/DG_175717
Outside of the UK
A few things to bear in mind.
People residing outside of the UK need to fulfil the following criteria:
· They must have Entry Clearance expressly for the purpose of enabling them to form a Partnership in the UK, that is a Partnership or Fiance(e) Visa in their passport. You can get these from a British Embassy or High Commission in the country of origin. Or:
· They must have been granted indefinite leave to remain the the UK and this must have been stamped in their passport, Or:
· They must have a Certificate of Approval, which must be applied for my post (how delightfully old-fashioned) from the Home Office. Try calling 0870 606 7766.
· Once all this is done (still with me?) you and your partner need to give notice at a designated register office of your choice; you’ll need to bring all your bits and bobs with you – proofs of ID etc.
Next time...The Fun Stuff! Planning a Civil Ceremony and some nods to gay-friendly venues.
Bye for now!
Susan
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