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Civil Partnership Act 2004, Section 31 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 22 August 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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(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, [F1or]
(b)after the end of the applicable period, F2...
F3(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(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,
[F4(aa)on premises that are not approved premises although the signing is purportedly in accordance with section 6(3A)(a),
F5(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) F6....
(3)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or [F7(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).
[F8(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
F1Word in s. 31(1)(a) inserted (27.2.2023) by Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 (c. 28), s. 7(1), Sch. para. 4(3)(a)(i) (with s. 8); S.I. 2023/88, reg. 2 (with regs. 3-17)
F2Word in s. 31(1)(b) omitted (27.2.2023) by virtue of Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 (c. 28), s. 7(1), Sch. para. 4(3)(a)(ii) (with s. 8); S.I. 2023/88, reg. 2 (with regs. 3-17)
F3S. 31(1)(c) omitted (27.2.2023) by virtue of Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 (c. 28), s. 7(1), Sch. para. 4(3)(a)(iii) (with s. 8); S.I. 2023/88, reg. 2 (with regs. 3-17)
F4S. 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))
F5S. 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)
F6Words in s. 31(2)(d) omitted (27.2.2023) by virtue of Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 (c. 28), s. 7(1), Sch. para. 4(3)(b) (with s. 8); S.I. 2023/88, reg. 2 (with regs. 3-17)
F7Words 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))
F8S. 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))
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