Convert Your Civil Partnership to a Marriage

From Wednesday 10 December 2014 couples will be able to convert their civil partnership to a marriage, but only if it was registered in England and Wales, or overseas in a consulate or armed forces base (where the civil partnership was registered according to the laws of England and Wales).

Couples will have the choice of a simple single stage procedure or a two stage procedure, however, all couples will have to make an appointment at a register office, of which both must attend, and provide evidence of:

• name and date of birth (ideally a passport)
• address (driving licence, utility bill or bank statement)
• your civil partnership (your certificate)

To book an appointment please contact the Register Office on 01352 703333 or by email to registrars@flintshire.gov.uk

Even if you didn't have your civil partnership in Flintshire you can still come to the Flintshire Register Office for your conversion.

Single Stage

For those couples who wish to follow the single stage procedure; the conversion happens when you both sign a declaration, at a register office, stating that you have not dissolved your civil partnership and that both want to convert it to marriage.

The declaration must be signed at a register office.  The conversion is then registered and a marriage certificate issued.

Two Stage

For those couples wishing to sign the declaration in a register office which is in a different district to where they provided the details about themselves or in an Approved Premises in their own district, the follow procedure will apply.
 
Stage 1 - Couples can attend any register office for an appointment with the Superintendent Registrar to complete a declaration and provide the required evidence. 

Stage 2 - The signing of the declaration, which can be followed by a ceremony, can place at the same range of venues as where a marriage of same sex couples can take place:

• Approved premises, including the Ceremony Room at Llwynegrin Hall, Mold.
• Religious buildings registered for the marriage of same sex couples (including military, naval and air force chapels) where a ceremony under Section 46 of the Marriage Act 1946 is to immediately follow the conversion into marriage.
• Premises where a ceremony according to the Jewish faith or the Society of Friends is to immediately follow the conversion. 

The attendance of a Registrar will be required at all conversions into marriage, including those on religious premises.

Under the two stage process the marriage resulting from the conversion will be registered when the Superintendent Registrar returns to their office and the marriage certificate will be posted to the couple.

Fees

The full fee for conversion will be £45, however, the conversion will be free if you registered your civil partnership before Saturday 29 March 2014 (before you had the opportunity to marry).  This free conversion will be available for a period of 12 months, until Wednesday 9 December 2015.

You will need to pay the fee:

• if you registered a civil partnership after Sunday 29 March 2014, or plan to register one in the future and then convert it to a marriage; and
• after Wednesday 9 December 2015 - even if you registered your civil partnership before 29 March 2014.

For those couples who wish to follow the 2 stage procedure and have a ceremony following the conversion at an Approved Premises, the fee will be reduced by £45 within the first year up to 9 December 2015 (please see Renewal of Vows ceremony details below) however, a fee of £27 is required, at the Register Office, for the checking of evidence.

There is a fee of £11.00. You may pay by cash or credit / debit card at the Flintshire Register Office.

Time Limit for completing the conversion

Once the details for the conversion into marriage have been provided to the Superintendent Registrar the conversion declaration must be signed by each party and the Superintendent Registrar within 12 months of that date. 

Renewal of Vows Ceremony

There's no official marriage ceremony attached to the conversion, however, couples can choose to have a Renewal of Vows ceremony after the conversion at a venue of your choice that is licensed for the solemnization of marriages.

If you would also like to have a ceremony please discuss this option with a member of the Registration Service when you book your appointment.  The fees for a Renewal of Vows ceremony when attached to the conversion for the first year (up to 9 December 2015) are as follows:

The Register Office does not offer ceremonies on Sundays or Bank Holidays

Llwynegrin Hall Ceremony Room, The Register Office, Mold

Further useful information can be found on the following websites:

• gov.uk - a cross-government website containing information for the public.
• The Government Equalities (GEO) - have recently updated their information page on the marriage of same sex couples.
• Stonewall - the lesbian, gay and bisexual campaigning and lobbying group, also have a Q&A section.