Change a civil partnership to a civil marriage

Anyone who has a same sex civil partnership formed in England or Wales, can change this into a civil marriage.

What is involved 

There are two possible stages to the ‘conversion’ which is a legal paper process, with the option to have a celebratory ceremony. 

Conversion without ceremony

The couple will need to: 

• attend an appointment with a superintendent registrar in the register office (this can be at any local authority) 
• bring evidence of identity, proof of address and the original civil partnership registration certificate 
• sign a declaration to confirm that the couple have not dissolved their civil partnership, and that they both wish to convert their civil partnership into a marriage 
• have the conversion registered and a certificate issued 

The couple may optionally choose to say the declaration wording aloud to one another before signing the declaration. 

Conversion with celebratory ceremony

For couples wishing to hold a celebratory ceremony, the couple will need to: 

• attend an appointment in person with a Superintendent Registrar in the register office (this can be at any local authority) 
• bring evidence of their identity, proof of address and the original civil partnership registration certificate 

A legal declaration will be drawn up for signature at a later date, but not more than one year after the appointment. 

A second stage will involve: 

• the couple both signing the declaration confirming they have not dissolved their civil partnership, and that they both wish to convert their civil partnership into a marriage – this must be done in front of a Superintendent Registrar (including those taking place in a religious building) 
• a ceremony can then be conducted by the Superintendent Registrar at the register office or at an approved premise, or by the minister for the religious building 
• after the ceremony the Superintendent Registrar will register the declaration online and a marriage certificate will be posted to the couple 

Venues

The following are approved non-religious premises within South Gloucestershire where the ceremony can be held.

The South Gloucestershire Register Office 

Kingswood Civic Centre
High Street
Kingswood
Bristol
BS15 9TR

You can find an approved premises on our online map.

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Fees

Without ceremony 

The fee for conversion at a register office is £50 plus £12.50 for each marriage certificate required. 

With ceremony

There is an initial fee of £30 payable when the couple attend the appointment to see the Superintendent Registrar and produce their required documents.

For the second stage of the process, there is either:

• a fee for a celebratory ceremony at an approved premise or register office or
• a fee of £101 for the Superintendent Registrar to attend for the signing of the declaration if the ceremony is in a religious building registered for same sex marriages

Register office

• Monday to Friday (maximum 2 guests) £275

Approved premises

• Monday to Thursday £355
• Friday and Saturday £410
• Sunday and bank holidays £470

There is a £60 non-refundable and non-transferable booking fee required when booking. The remaining balance is due eight weeks before the ceremony.

To book a conversion to marriage ceremony contact us by:

• phone: 01454 863140
• email: registrationservice@southglos.gov.uk

Changes to bookings

There is a £37 fee if you change a ceremony date or time after 24 hours of making the booking.

A late amendment fee of £60 is charged when the date or time of a ceremony is changed one month or less from the original ceremony date (the ceremony must be taking place at the same venue and within one calendar year of the original booking).

Book an appointment 

To book an appointment contact us by:

• phone: 01454 863140
• email: registrationservice@southglos.gov.uk