Civil Partnerships

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The Office of Regulatory Services registers civil partnerships under the Civil Partnerships Act. Civil Partnerships may be registered at the ORS shopfront, or couples may wish to engage a civil partnership notary to conduct a ceremony prior to registration. See the notary for future information.

What is a civil partnership?
Do I have to be an A.C.T. resident to enter into a civil partnership?
I want to enter into a civil partnership.
I want a civil partnership notary to conduct my civil partnership ceremony.
I want to register my civil partnership at the Office of Regulatory Service.
How is a civil partnership terminated?
I want to become a civil partnership notary.

What is a civil partnership?

A civil partnership is a legally recognised relationship that has a number of consequences under A.C.T. law. A civil partnership is a particular type of domestic partnership which is treated as a domestic partnership for the purposes of A.C.T. law.

If you are unsure whether you and your partner should enter into a civil partnership you should seek independent legal advice.

Do I have to be an A.C.T. resident to enter into a civil partnership?

At least one of the proposed civil partners must be a resident of the A.C.T. Evidence of residency must be provided and include three bills or bank statements that contain your name and residential address dated older than three months but no older than six months.

If you are unable to satisfy the identification and evidence of residency requirements, please contact the Office of Regulatory Services for further assistance.

I want to enter into a civil partnership.

Civil partnerships can be entered into in two ways. By registration at the Office of Regulatory Services shopfront or by a Civil Partnership Notary at any location within the A.C.T. Civil partnerships are a legally recognised relationship between two adults that may be entered into regardless of their sex.

Two people may enter into a civil partnership only where one of the proposed civil partners lives in the A.C.T. neither proposed civil partner is married or already in a civil partnership, and are not in a prohibited relationship with the person’s proposed civil partner. Prohibited relationships are:

lineal ancestor;
lineal descendent;
sister;
half-sister;
brother; and,
half-brother.

Persons wanting to enter into a civil partnership that wish to have a ceremony performed by a Civil Partnership Notary should contact a notary to discuss the completion of forms, identification requirements and fees. Civil Partnership Notary details are available on the Civil Partnership Notary Register.

Persons wanting to register a civil partnership at the Office of Regulatory Services shopfront may apply by completing an Application to Register A Civil Partnership Without Ceremony and paying the prescribed fee for a certificate.

Both proposed civil partners must provide identification and at least one proposed civil partner must provide three forms of evidence of residency within the ACT such as bills, bank statements and rates notices that are dated older than three months but not older than six months addressed to you at an ACT residential address. Forms of identification must be either:

a birth certificate;
an Australian Citizenship Certificate; or,
a current passport.

Original forms of identification and evidence of residency must be presented if applying at our shopfront. Applications made via the post must be accompanied by copies of identification evidence of residency certified as true and correct copies by a Solicitor, Justice of the Peace or Police Officer.

If you are unable to satisfy the identification and evidence of residency requirements, please contact the Office of Regulatory Services for further assistance.

I want a civil partnership notary to conduct my civil partnership ceremony.

I want to register my civil partnership at the Office of Regulatory Services.

Both proposed civil partners must provide identification and at least one proposed civil partner must provide three forms of evidence of residency within the A.C.T. such as bills, bank statements and rates notices that are dated older than three months but not older than six months addressed to you at an A.C.T. residential address. Forms of identification must be either:

a birth certificate;
an Australian Citizenship Certificate; or,
a current passport.

Original forms of identification and evidence of residency must be presented if applying at our shopfront. Applications made via the post must be accompanied by copies of identification and evidence of residency certified as true and correct copies by a Solicitor, Justice of the Peace or Police Officer.

How is a civil partnership terminated?

A civil partnership is terminated upon the death or marriage of either party. A civil partnership may also be terminated by either party, or jointly, by giving the Registrar-General a completed Notice to Terminate a Civil Partnership.

Where a notice is given to the Registrar-General by only one party, it is only effective if a copy has been served personally on the other party and the statutory declaration attached to the notice is completed.

At the end of 12 months after the day the notice is given to the Registrar-General the civil partnership is terminated unless:

the termination notice is withdrawn;
the Supreme Court makes an order that the notice is not effective to terminate the civil partnership; or,
the civil partnership has already been terminated by the death or marriage of either party.

Upon termination the Registrar-General will give each party written notice that the civil partnership has been terminated on the date stated in the notice. This notice will be posted to the last known address of each party.

I want to become a civil partnership notary.

You may apply to become a civil partnership notary by completing an Application to Register as a Civil Partnership Notary, and paying the prescribed fee.

The Registrar-General may register an applicant where satisfied they:

are over 18 years of age;
have the knowledge and the skills or experience necessary to exercise the functions of a civil partnership notary; and,
are a suitable person to be registered as a civil partnership notary.

In assessing an application the Registrar-General will consider:

the applicant’s evidence of identity, age and residence;
whether the applicant has been convicted of any offences;
the applicant’s qualifications, skills and experience;
whether the applicant has any potential conflicts of interest; and,
references in support of the application.

For further information please refer to the Guidance Material for Civil Partnership Notaries or contact the Office of Regulatory Services.

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