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Relationships

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Original poster

Civil partnership advice

10 replies

MarleneH · 14/12/2022 14:13

Hi. Has anyone ever had a basic civil partnership?

Me and my long term partner (and father to our children) have been together 12 years, however neither of us have any interest in marriage, we have however, spoke about a civil partnership maybe just to give our relationship some ‘legal worth’

we would want to keep this basic,I.e no ceremony. It would just be to say we’ve done it if I’m being honest..

wouldn’t want guests etc, would just announce it to family after wards. I hate being the centre of attention - lol.

has anyone ever done a very basic civil partnership? If so, could you tell me what fees were incurred for a very basic service?

many thanks
Marlie x

OP posts:

Merrow · 14/12/2022 14:17

Look at your local council website for costs - just checked the Manchester one and the cheapest is £57 plus whatever notice fees you have to pay.

Englishrosegarden · 14/12/2022 14:22

We did this a couple of years ago. Think the total cost was just over £100. We had no ceremony or anything. Had to go in once to sign the forms and give notice and then a few weeks later we went and signed the partnership. You will need 2 witnesses (our local authority won't provide them). In the end we just had our 3 adult kids there to witness us sign.

Thatnameistaken · 14/12/2022 16:57

Yes we did it in the summer. There was my partner, myself, our adult daughter and a longstanding friend, dressed in jeans and casual tops.
There is a compulsory ceremony of sorts, a very basic repeat who you are and that you're happy to enter into a civil partnership, which we didn't expect to have to do but was quite funny. It was over in about 15 minutes.

Original poster

MarleneH · 14/12/2022 18:00

Thanks so so much. What was the total cost of this please. All in all. X

OP posts:

Englishrosegarden · 14/12/2022 22:07

About £115 in total for us I think. That was £35 each for the notice and then we went for the cheapest weekday option for the actual signing.

Original poster

MarleneH · 14/12/2022 23:05

Thanks so much.

can you remember what fees were payable? I know there’s a giving notice fee, room fee, anything else?

did you have to pay for witnesses etc.

thanks again x

OP posts:

Merrow · 14/12/2022 23:12

Our venue wouldn't provide witnesses, you had to bring your own (so you couldn't rope in staff members for instance). There was only the notice and the fee for the partnership certificate signing process.

You can pay extra to get more copies of the certificate, which we did, and pay extra if you want a room with space for guests and a longer time slot.

Thatnameistaken · 15/12/2022 06:10

I think the total cost of ours was £130 no extra cost for witnesses.
We didn't want any fuss as like you I can't bear to be the centre of attention but a good friend cadjoled us into having a small get together of a few friends and very immediate family afterwards to mark the occasion and I'm glad she did, we had a lovely afternoon.

Mammawilson · 17/01/2023 20:43

Simple ceremony with no music or readings £57 and £35 each to give notice

MoMuntervary · 17/01/2023 20:46

Total of £130ish. Had a pact with another couple who wanted to do the same so we were witnesses for each other. All in casual clothes on a weekday and popped to pub for lunch afterwards. All very easy. You could always ask a couple of random mumsnetters to turn up to yours.

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