In North Yorkshire, we have many and varied venues available. We recognise that there is far more than just one civil partnership ceremony, each is individual and special in its own way.

We offer two kinds of ceremonies for civil partnerships, a simple registration of your partnership (for a statutory fee) and an enhanced ceremony.

Simple ceremony

The simple civil partnership registration meets all the necessary legal requirements. This ceremony has no enhancements such as music or readings and is for a limited number of six guests (including your two witnesses). It is offered in all our registration offices during opening hours, Monday to Friday up to 11.30am. Please see the registration service fees page for the fee for a simple ceremony, which includes one certificate.

Enhanced ceremony

Alternatively, for such an important event, you might prefer to have a more personalised ceremony. You may enhance your ceremony with readings and music, to make the service a unique and special occasion. This enhanced ceremony is available at any time in our offices, though charges vary according to the day of the week and the size of the room used. Please see the registration service fees page for the fees for an enhanced ceremony.

Please note that the enhanced ceremony is always offered for ceremonies at approved venues.

The civil partnership ceremony

Please note that the civil partnership ceremony must be entirely non-religious in character and therefore may not, by law, contain any religious readings or music.

Two witnesses to the civil partnership will be required to sign the legal record of civil partnership. They can be friends or relatives of either sex, aged 16 years or older, who must be able to understand the ceremony.

Whether it is a simple ceremony or an elaborate celebration, we can help you choose everything you need for your day from the registration office to music and words.

For more information, please view our  ceremony bookings terms and conditions [48kb] [pdf] document.

Eligibility for a civil partnership

Please note that there are some legal restrictions on who may enter into a civil partnership. In addition, you do not have to be a British citizen or to have the right to live here permanently to register your civil partnership in England and Wales. However, civil partnership in the United Kingdom does not automatically give you the right of permanent residence here. See the foreign nationals who wish to marry or register a civil partnership page for more details.

Urgent circumstances

The registration service is able to make special arrangements at very short notice for a civil partnership formation under special licence, where one person in the relationship is very seriously ill and not expected to recover. 

There is a legal process to be followed in such cases, so please contact your local registration office for further advice and information.

Online mapping

You can find a range of information about the services we provide by using our online mapping.

Useful downloads Ceremony bookings terms and conditions [48kb] [pdf] Ceremony bookings terms and conditions for 2012.   Weblinks Please note: All external websites open in a new browser window and NYCC is not responsible for the content of external websites. GOV.UK - births, deaths, marriages and care Information from GOV.UK about certification, register offices, death and bereavement, marriage, civil partnerships and related subjects. Government Equalities Office The Government Equalities Office (GEO) takes the lead in government on issues relating to women and gender equality, sexual orientation and transgender equality matters and leads on the Equality Act 2010. Contacts Harrogate register office registrars.harrogate@northyork... Tel: 0845 034 9480 (for appointments), 0845 034 9482 (for copy certificates) Fax: 01423 502105 Full details for Harrogate register office Malton registration office registrars.malton@northyorks.g... Tel: 0845 034 9483 Fax: 01653 696135 Full details for Malton registration office Northallerton registration office registrars.northallerton@north... Tel: 01609 532601 or 2602 Fax: 01609 532096 Full details for Northallerton registration office Richmond registration office registrars.richmond@northyorks... Tel: 0845 034 9485 Fax: 01748 824522 Full details for Richmond registration office Scarborough registration office registrars.scarborough@northyo... Tel: 0845 034 9486 Fax: 01723 350436 Full details for Scarborough registration office Selby registration office registrars.selby@northyorks.go... Tel: 0845 034 9487 Fax: 01757 705133 Full details for Selby registration office Settle registration office Please note that as of Tuesday 11 September 2012, the registration office at Castle Hill in Settle is closed. See below for details. Full details for Settle registration office Skipton registration office registrars.skipton@northyorks.... Tel: 0845 034 9488 Fax: 01756 709034 Full details for Skipton registration office Whitby registration office registrars.whitby@northyorks.g... Tel: 0845 034 9489 Fax: 01947 602731 Full details for Whitby registration office