Civil partnership conversions in Scotland to be free for the first year
Couples in Scotland wishing to their civil partnership to a marriage will be able to do so for free – provided they do so in the first year.
Scottish Cabinet Secretary Alex Neil confirmed the move today – less than two months before conversions are set to begin, on December 16.
Mr Neil told the Equality Network: “The Scottish Government sees the force in the argument that many couples currently in a civil partnership would have entered into a marriage had that choice been open to them at the time.
“I am therefore pleased to let you know that in the first year, a couple which changes their civil partnership to a marriage under the administrative route will not pay a fee, provided they registered their civil partnership before same sex marriage was available in Scotland.
“The couple will still be charged £10 for each marriage extract, in line with the usual charges for extracts.”
In Scotland, England and Wales, charges will only be entirely waived for couples who request to go down the simple administrative route to convert to a marriage – with fees still applying to couples who request a civil or religious wedding ceremony.
Civil partnerships need to be converted in the country in which they were registered.
Couples in Scotland who are not already in civil partnerships will be able to marry from Hogmanay, December 31.
