Part 4

Civil partnership: Northern Ireland
Chapter 1

Registration

Preliminaries to registration

Objections
142
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an objection may withdraw it at any time, but the Registrar General may have regard to an objection which has been withdrawn.