Culture Secretary and Minister for Equalities, Sajid Javid MP, has announced that the fee for converting civil partnerships into marriage have been waived for certain criteria.
From 10th December any couple who wish to convert their civil partnership into marriage can do so for free provided they entered into civil partnership before 29th March 2014, the date when same-sex marriage became legal.
The fee is going to be waived for a full year.
This removes any barriers for couples who wish to convert their civil partnership into a marriage, if they entered into the union before same-sex marriage was legal. Many couples entered into civil partnerships as that was the only option available. The announcement by Sajid Javid MP will be well received by these couples and gay-rights campaigners.