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Historic day for NI as same sex couples can now convert civil partnerships to marriage

'As a gesture of support I have waived the conversion fee for those couples and for all couples who wish to convert their civil partnership to a marriage for a full year'

Same sex couples can now convert their civil partnership to marriage from today (Monday) December 7.

Legislation comes into effect today enabling couples in a civil partnership or marriage registered here to convert a same sex civil partnership to a marriage or an opposite sex marriage into a civil partnership.

The news has been welcomed by Finance Minister Conor Murphy.

He said: “Today is an important milestone in the campaign for marriage equality. There are over 1,300 same sex civil partnerships here. 17 couples are expected to convert their civil partnerships to marriages today with a total of 32 planned for this week.

“As a gesture of support I have waived the conversion fee for those couples and for all couples who wish to convert their civil partnership to a marriage for a full year.”

Minister Murphy added: “I would like to congratulate those couples who are converting their partnerships today and wish them a very happy life together.”

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