The government announced an official implementation date of The Civil Partnership Register as 5th December 2005, allowing same sex couples to sign the register from 21st December 2005 onwards.

Unlike a marriage a Civil Partnership can be formed simply by signing the legal document, known as a schedule.

Couples can also arrange to have a Civil Partnership Ceremony to accompany the signing, although the ceremony is not a provision of the Act and therefore not provided as standard. Whether a ceremony is included in the price at a Register Office varies according to the Register Office local authority.

A Civil Partnership Ceremony is not a legal requirement of the Civil Partnership Act and couples can arrange a ceremony to compliment the signing of the register, through Local Authorities.

The signing of the schedule, the formulation of the Civil Partnership, needs to be with a Civil Partnership Registrar present. This can happen in most Register Offices or at one of the approved venues.

The site gives details of all the available Register Offices and their complete list of approved venues.