(1)A civil partnership registrar commits an offence if he refuses or fails to comply with the provisions of this Chapter or of any regulations made under section 36.
(2)A civil partnership registrar guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable—
(a)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to a fine (or both);
(b)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;
and on conviction shall cease to be a civil partnership registrar.
(3)A person commits an offence if—
(a)under arrangements made by a registration authority for the purposes of section 2(4), he is under a duty to record information required to be recorded under section 2(4), but
(b)he refuses or without reasonable cause omits to do so.
(4)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (3) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
(5)A person commits an offence if he records in the register information relating to the formation of a civil partnership by the signing of a civil partnership schedule, knowing that the civil partnership is void under section 49(b) F1....
(6)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (5) is liable on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to a fine (or both).
(7)A person commits an offence if he records in the register information relating to the formation of a civil partnership by the signing of a Registrar General’s licence, knowing that the civil partnership is void under section 49(b) F2....
(8)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (7) is liable—
(a)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to a fine (or both);
(b)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.
(9)A prosecution under subsection (5) or (7) may not be commenced more than 3 years after the commission of the offence.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 33(5) omitted (27.2.2023) by virtue of Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 (c. 28), s. 7(1), Sch. para. 4(5)(a) (with s. 8); S.I. 2023/88, reg. 2 (with regs. 3-17)
F2Words in s. 33(7) omitted (27.2.2023) by virtue of Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 (c. 28), s. 7(1), Sch. para. 4(5)(b) (with s. 8); S.I. 2023/88, reg. 2 (with regs. 3-17)