The Difference Between a Marriage and Civil Partnership

Civil Marriage 
There are two ways to have a legal union in the Cayman Islands. If you are an opposite sex couple, you can be legally married under The Marriage Act (1991 revision). This marriage is recognized worldwide once you obtain a Certified Copy of the Marriage Register, which is obtained after your wedding from the General Registry. The Certified Copy is obtained after your marriage officiant has recorded and filed your marriage.

If you are an overseas guest, Simply Weddings will obtain a Certified Copy of the Marriage Register for you and mail it to you. The cost of the document is part of your wedding package.

If you live in the Cayman Islands, then it is your responsibility to apply for this document. You can apply  for this in person at the General Registry located on 133 Elgin Avenue, George Town, or apply online at www.vitals.ky.

There are many different nationalities living and working in the Cayman Islands, and many choose to marry here. If you intend to return to your homeland with your spouse, you may need an additional stamp, called an apostille, on your Certified Copy of the Marriage Register. This has to do with something called the Hague Convention and whether or not your country is a signatory. Most Latin American countries and many European countries are not. Please check with us if in any doubt. We will advise you if an apostille is required by your country and how you can get one. The USA, Canada, and the Commonwealth Countries are signatories, and no further action is required to have your marriage recognized.

At the present time, same-sex couples cannot be legally married in the Cayman Islands.

Civil Partnership 
In 2020, Parliament passed the Civil Partnership Act. This allows same-sex couples to enter a legal union recognized in the Cayman Islands. Opposite sex couples can also enter into a civil partnership. Not all countries recognize civil partnerships in the same way that they recognize marriage. If in doubt, please check with your country’s nearest Consular Agency.

In the Cayman Islands, civil partners enjoy the same rights and privileges as married couples. You cannot, however, become civil partners and subsequently marry the same person without dissolving the partnership first. This is the biggest misconception we have found with the Civil Partnership Act.

Civil Partners cannot automatically take each other’s surnames as the wife does in a marriage. If a civil partner wishes to take another name, he or she must do this via a Deed Poll, which is a separate process. You can find out about Deed Polls from the General Registry in the Government Administration Building on Elgin Avenue or call (345) 9497900.

The process of becoming civil partners is a little different. There is additional paperwork with becoming civil partners and an additional cost related to filing and the Certificate you receive. For overseas couples, this additional paperwork means registration takes longer, and we recommend a lead time of 6 weeks before you want the ceremony to take place.

If you have a Civil Partnership Certificate from another overseas country, you can also apply to have your civil union recognized as such in the Cayman Islands. Please contact Simply Weddings Cayman for advice. 

Our Civil Registrars are fully licensed by the Cayman Islands government to perform and file both Civil Marriages and Civil Unions and ensure that you get your certificates in a timely manner.