Civil partnership

The marriage (same sex couples) Act 2013 provides for couples in civil partnerships to be able to convert these to a marriage, if they choose to.

You will only be able to convert your civil partnership to marriage, if you registered it in England and Wales, or overseas in a consulate or armed forces base (where the civil partnership was registered according to the laws of England and Wales).

There is no obligation to convert your civil partnership to marriage and we suggest you take legal advice if you have any queries about the differences between civil partnership and marriage, as we are unable to advise on this matter.

Couples have two choices

Option one - in a register office

• You must both attend an appointment, in person, at any registration office of your choice. Even if you did not hold your civil partnership in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, you can still come here for your conversion.
• You will need to bring proof of identity, proof of your address, and a copy of your civil partnership certificate.
• You will fill in an application form in the office.

You then

Sign the form which states that you have not dissolved your civil partnership and you both want to convert it to marriage. The Superintendent Registrar will then register your marriage and a certificate of conversion-to-marriage will be issued immediately.

This is a very simple administrative procedure and has no ceremony attached to it. The charge for this process is £50 plus £12.50 for each copy of the conversion to marriage certificate that you require.

Option two - in a venue licensed for same sex marriages

• Please remember that you need to book the registrars and the venue first.
• If you hold your ceremony at a venue other than the Maidenhead ceremony room, we will not be able to issue a conversion to marriage certificate immediately following the marriage celebration ceremony. This will be posted out to you the following working day.
• You must both attend an appointment, in person, at a registration office of your choice. Even if you did not hold your civil partnership in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, you can still come here for your application. You can do this up to one year in advance of your ceremony
• You will need to bring proof of identity, proof of your address, and a copy of your civil partnership certificate.
• You will fill in an application form in the office.
• Please contact us for up to date charges.