Civil Partnership Act 2004

31 Offences relating to civil partnership schedule E+W

(1) A person commits an offence if he issues a civil partnership schedule knowing that he does so—

(a) before the waiting period in relation to each notice of proposed civil partnership has expired,

(b) after the end of the applicable period, or

(c) at a time when its issue has been forbidden under Schedule 2 by a person entitled to forbid its issue.

(2) A person commits an offence if, in his actual or purported capacity as a civil partnership registrar, he officiates at the signing of a civil partnership schedule by proposed civil partners knowing that he does so—

(a) at a place other than the place specified in the notices of proposed civil partnership and the civil partnership schedule,

[F1 (aa) on premises that are not approved premises although the signing is purportedly in accordance with section 6(3A)(a),

F2 (ab) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

(b) in the absence of a civil partnership registrar,

(c) before the waiting period in relation to each notice of proposed civil partnership has expired, or

(d) even though the civil partnership is void under section 49(b) or (c).

(3) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or [F3 (2)(a), (aa), (b), (c) or (d)] is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to a fine (or both).

[F4 (3A) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (2)(ab) is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years or to a fine or both.]

(4) A prosecution under this section may not be commenced more than 3 years after the commission of the offence.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 31(2)(aa)(ab) inserted (5.12.2005) by The Civil Partnership (Amendments to Registration Provisions) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2000), art. 3, Sch. para. 11(2) (subject to art. 1(3))

F2 S. 31(2)(ab) repealed (1.10.2012) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), ss. 114(4), 120, Sch. 10 Pt. 11 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 3(m)

F3 Words in s. 31(3) substituted (5.12.2005) by The Civil Partnership (Amendments to Registration Provisions) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2000), art. 3, Sch. para. 11(3) (subject to art. 1(3))

F4 S. 31(3A) inserted (5.12.2005) by The Civil Partnership (Amendments to Registration Provisions) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2000), art. 3, Sch. para. 11(4) (subject to art. 1(3))