Give notice of a civil partnership
You must give notice at least 29 days before your ceremony date. You can even give notice up to 12 months before the ceremony.
For individuals subject to immigration control, the notice period may be extended to 71 days by the Home Office. Your registrar will explain if this applies to you.
You must have decided on the venue where the signing or ceremony will take place before you give notice. Although booking of the venue is not required for notice, it is strongly recommended.
A civil partnership doesn't require a ceremony, so you can choose to sign the schedule in front of two qualified witnesses in the Register Office instead. We can book this in for you at the notice appointment.
Changes to the way notice is given
As of 1 July 2021, there are some changes to the way a notice of civil partnership is given.
You and your partner are ‘relevant nationals’
A relevant national is someone who has:
- British or Irish citizenship.
- settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme - you will need to prove your status.
- an application to the EU Settlement Scheme that you made before 30 June 2021, which you’re waiting for a decision on - you will need to prove your status.
If you are both relevant nationals, you must give notice in the district where each of you live, even if this is not where you are holding your ceremony.
If you live in different registration districts to each other, you should each give notice in your own registration district. You only need to attend your own appointment. Appointments do not have to be held on the same date or time.
You and your partner are not ‘relevant nationals’
If either or both of you are not relevant nationals, you must give notice together in the district where at least one of you lives, even if this is not where you are holding your ceremony.
Please book an appointment at our office if at least one of you lives in Lambeth.
If one of you has already given notice separately before 1 July 2021, you will both need to give notice again together if your ceremony is to take place after 1 July 2021.
Cost for this service
There is a statutory fee for giving notice of civil partnership, which is £42 per person or £57 per person if one or both of you are subject to immigration control.
This is payable when you book or on the day that the notice is given
We only accept card payments.
Appointment times
We offer appointments to give notice Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 4.00pm.
The office is closed on the first Wednesday afternoon of each month, closing at midday.
When attending your appointment, please follow our Covid-19 guidance for visitors to council buildings.