Commentary on Sections Part 2 – Civil Partnership: England and Wales.Introduction Chapter 1 – Registration Section 2: Formation of civil partnership by registration
19.Subsection (1) describes the point at which a civil partnership is formed and sets out who is to be present at the registration. Two people are to be regarded as having registered as civil partners of each other once each of them has signed the civil partnership document. “The civil partnership document” is defined in section 7. Subsection (2) makes it clear that a civil partnership is formed even if the formalities set out at subsections (3) and (4) are not complied with. Subsection (3) specifies who else must sign the civil partnership document . Subsection (4) sets out what is to be recorded in the register once a civil partnership document has been signed and the administrative procedure to be completed following the civil partnership registration.
20.Subsection (5) provides that no religious service is to be used while a civil partnership registrar is officiating at the signing of a civil partnership document.