(1)Any person may at any time before the formation of a civil partnership in Northern Ireland make an objection in writing to the registrar.
(2)An objection on the ground that one of the proposed civil partners is incapable of understanding the nature of civil partnership must be accompanied by a supporting certificate signed by a medical practitioner.
(3)If the registrar is satisfied that the objection relates to no more than a misdescription or inaccuracy in the civil partnership notice, he must—
(a)notify the proposed civil partners,
(b)make such inquiries as he thinks fit, and
(c)subject to the approval of the Registrar General, make any necessary correction to any document relating to the proposed civil partnership.
(4)In any other case the registrar must notify the Registrar General of the objection.
(5)If the Registrar General is satisfied that there is a legal impediment to the formation of the civil partnership, he must direct the registrar to—
(a)notify the parties, and
(b)take all reasonable steps to ensure that the formation of the civil partnership does not take place.
(6)If subsection (5) does not apply, the Registrar General must direct the registrar to proceed under section 143.
(7)For the purposes of this section and section 143 there is a legal impediment to the formation of a civil partnership where the proposed civil partners are not eligible to be registered as civil partners of each other.
(8)A person who has submitted an objection may withdraw it at any time, but the Registrar General may have regard to an objection which has been withdrawn.