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Marriages and civil partnerships in the UK

Contents

    1. Overview
    2. What you need to do
    3. Giving notice at your local register office
    4. Documents to take to the register office
    5. Foreign nationals
    6. Religious ceremonies
    7. Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies

Overview

   You can get married or form a civil partnership in the UK if you’re:
     * 16 or over
     * free to marry or form a civil partnership (single, divorced or
       widowed)
     * not closely related

   You need permission from your parents or guardians if you’re under 18
   in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

   Only same sex couples can form a civil partnership.

   There will be no change to the rights and status of EU citizens living
   in the UK until 2021. You and your family can apply for ‘settled
   status’ to continue living in the UK after June 2021. The scheme will
   open fully by March 2019.

Same sex couples

   You can:
     * form a civil partnership in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern
       Ireland
     * get married in England, Scotland and Wales
     * convert your civil partnership into a marriage in England, Scotland
       and Wales

Marriages and civil partnerships in Scotland and Northern Ireland

   You can read more about the rules:
     * in Scotland for marriages and civil partnerships
     * in Northern Ireland for marriages and civil partnerships

     * Next : What you need to do

   Print entire guide

Related content

     * Order a copy of a birth, death or marriage certificate
     * Find a register office
     * Marriage Visitor visa

Explore the topic

     * Certificates, register offices, changes of name or gender
     * Marriage, civil partnership and divorce

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