Foreign civil partnerships can now convert to marriage

Couples who have a civil partnership registered abroad or elsewhere in the UK can now marry in Scotland, following an extension to the legislation on same sex marriage.

From Monday 2 November, civil partners registered outside Scotland are able, if they wish, to change their relationship to marriage by having a ceremony here. Previously, the legislation meant only civil partnerships registered in Scotland could be changed.

More than 1,000 same sex couples have married in Scotland since the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 came into force at the end of last year.

Welcoming the move as a "small but important piece of unfinished business", Tim Hopkins, Director of the Equality Network, said: “Without this, same sex couples living in Scotland who have registered a civil partnership outwith Scotland would be unable to marry in Scotland unless they live apart for a year first to dissolve their civil partnership. That’s obviously not an option for most couples, and now they will be able to marry in the usual way, changing their civil partnership directly to a marriage."

The Scottish Government consultation on the future of civil partnerships in Scotland (click here for news item) closes on Tuesday 15 December at 5pm.