http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/33/section/12/notesCivil partnershipDissolution of civil partnershipsSexual orientationPartnershipsExplanatory Notes to Civil Partnership Act 2004Department for Trade and IndustryKing's Printer of Acts of Parliament2020-04-20 33 18th November 2004 Part 2 – Civil Partnership: England and Wales 31 This section enables the Registrar General, on an application being made to him, to reduce the waiting period if satisfied there are compelling reasons to do so, because of exceptional circumstances. Subsections (2) and (3) give the Registrar General the power to make procedural regulations in relation to such applications and to make regulations delegating the power to shorten the waiting period to a registration authority in prescribed cases and making provision for appeals (to the Registrar General) against any decision taken by a registration authority where this power has been delegated.