The formalities both before and during the Civil Partnership formation are straightforward. There are several points that you will need to know, especially those relating to legal requirements.
Civil Partnership Schedule
When the 28-day waiting period following your notice has expired we will print and issue your Civil Partnership Schedule at Torbay Register Office. This is the legal document needed for you to form your civil partnership which you will sign.
Witnesses
You will need to ask two people if they will witness your civil partnership formation. These may be friends or relatives. They should be over the age of sixteen and be able to understand that you are forming a Civil Partnership. There is no need for them to be worried about this. All they must do is to sign the Civil Partnership Schedule.
Please note that no guests other than your two witnesses will be admitted.
Arrival
Please arrive in good time for your appointment, ideally twenty minutes before. This helps us and any other couples who are having ceremonies on the same day. If you arrive late, it is possible that the Superintendent Registrar will need to reschedule your ceremony to take place at a later date. It is important that you and your witnesses access the library through the main entrance and report to the reception desk.
When your party has arrived, the Registrar will see you in private to check the details on the Civil Partnership Schedule.
We will ask you to give the details of your natural or adopted parents’ full names and occupations. We record this in the Schedule and on your Certificate.
Photographs and videos
You or your witnesses are very welcome to bring cameras to record the occasion.
If you wish to video your ceremony, please let the Superintendent Registrar know before we start. We can then direct the person filming to the most suitable position.
The Ceremony (if you would like one)
There is no legal requirement to have a ceremony to form a Civil Partnership. If, however you would like to have a ceremony please contact us and we will send you a sample ceremony.
There is no need to be nervous or worried about the Ceremony if you decide to have one. It is quite simple. Don’t forget, we are there to help and guide you through all you say and do.
Registering your Civil Partnership
The Registrar will ask you to sign the Civil Partnership Schedule followed by your witnesses. You sign in the name by which you were known before the Ceremony.
It is very important that you check the content and spelling on the Schedule. By signing the Schedule, you are confirming that all the information is correct. If you later notice an error that requires correcting, you will have to pay a fee of £90.
Finally, the Superintendent Registrar signs the schedule. We will add the details on the schedule to the electronic register. Your certificate can then be issued. We may ask you to wait for the registration to be completed and the certificate issued. If this is not possible, we will post your certificate to you as soon as possible.
Confetti
You are welcome to use confetti outside of the building.
Getting to the Register Office
The Registrar's Office is in Paignton Library and Information Centre on Great Western Road opposite Paignton Bus Station, where most bus services stop including the No. 12.
Paignton Library has pay-and-display car parks at the rear of the building for you and your witnesses to use.
Paignton Library and Information Centre
Great Western Road
Paignton
TQ4 5AG