Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33)

Valid from 05/09/2005

Part 4 N.I. Civil partnership: Northern Ireland

Chapter 1 N.I. Registration

Supplementary N.I.

Valid from 05/12/2005

158 Offences N.I.

(1) Any registrar who signs a civil partnership schedule in the absence of the civil partners is guilty of an offence.

(2) Any person who is not a registrar but officiates at the signing of a civil partnership schedule in such a way as to lead the civil partners to believe that he is a registrar is guilty of an offence.

(3) A person who is guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

(4) Notwithstanding anything in Article 19(1) of the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26)) (limitation of time for taking proceedings), proceedings for an offence under this section may be instituted at any time within 3 years after the commission of the offence.