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Convert a civil partnership into marriage

A desk and two chairs set inside the Usher Gallery building

You can convert your civil partnership into marriage at any registration office in Lincolnshire.

Currently, only same-sex couples in a civil partnership may convert their relationship into a marriage. You cannot convert an opposite-sex civil partnership to a marriage in England and Wales. 

The process converts one legal relationship (civil partnership) into another (marriage). Once the civil partnership is converted into a marriage, the civil partnership ends and the couple is treated as having been married since the date the civil partnership was formed. 

You are not required to give notice, provide witnesses, or recite statutory words as part of the conversion process.

Evidence requirements

You must both attend an appointment together and produce the following documents for the completion of the declaration:

  • your original civil partnership certificate
  • proof of name and date of birth, each of you should provide:
    • a current valid passport or United Kingdom (UK)
    • driving licence with a photograph,
    • UK birth certificate (together with another piece of evidence listed to establish current name, if changed since birth)
  • proof of your address in one of the following forms:
    • a utility bill dated within three months of your appointment
    • bank or building society statement dated within one month of your appointment
    • council tax bill dated within one year of your appointment
    • valid UK driving licence

Conversion appointment

Attending the appointment is a simple one-stage process to convert your civil partnership to a marriage that can be completed at any of our registration offices.

The appointment should take about half an hour, and both civil partners must attend with all the required documents listed above. There is a fee of £50 to complete the declaration.

The declaration will be prepared and then immediately signed by both of you in the presence of the registrar, who will also sign to complete your conversion.

Marriage certificates

A marriage certificate will be sent to you once the details of the signed declaration have been recorded onto our system. The certificate will indicate that your marriage should be treated as having existed from the date of your civil partnership and shows the date of the conversion.

The fee for marriage certificates is £12.50 each.

Book your appointment

To book an appointment to complete a conversion into marriage, please get in touch with us.

Contact us