End a civil partnership
Civil partnerships end if either partner passes away or gets married, or either partner can apply to end the relationship.
If you need to show an organisation that your civil partnership ended because of death or marriage, you should ask them directly what proof they need. They may want an official death or marriage certificate, or a statutory declaration from you.
If you end your Queensland civil partnership through us, you can apply to us for an updated certificate showing it has ended after the termination period.
When you apply to end your Queensland civil partnership, it will not be registered until 90 full days after we get your compliant application. This is known as the termination period. An application is compliant when it has been completed in full and submitted with all required supporting documents.
You or your partner (or both of you) can choose to withdraw your application during these 90 full days.
If your civil partnership was registered outside of Queensland, contact us.
Marriages can't be ended using this application form. See the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia for information about ending a marriage.
Rules for ending a civil partnership
To end a civil partnership (not a marriage), you must:
- be one of the people in the partnership
- have a Justice of the Peace or another authorised person witness your signatures and proof of ID documents
- pay the fee.
If only one partner is signing the application form, you must also give a copy of it to the other registered partner. You can do this by:
- organising another person to give it to them
- sending it to them by registered post to their last known home address
- personally giving it to them
- placing it in front of them and explaining what it is
- seeking the registrar's approval to serve the document by another method.
After you have done this, you need to complete the statutory declaration for a single applicant, stating:
- you have given a copy of the application form to your partner
- how you gave it to them
- the registered post tracking number (if you sent it by registered post).
How to apply
To end your civil partnership (not a marriage), you need to:
- Read and understand the rules above.
- Complete, download and print the end a civil partnership application form.
- Visit a Justice of the Peace or another authorised person to complete the statutory declaration section of your application form and certify your supporting documents.
- Attach your certified proof of ID documents.
- Pay the fee (non-refundable).
- Submit your application form along with payment and supporting documents to us by post or in person.
Submit by post
Post your completed application form with your certified documents and payment to:
Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
PO Box 15188
CITY EAST QLD 4002
Submit in person
Visit any of the following locations:
- the Brisbane registry customer service centre at Level 32, 180 Ann Street, Brisbane
- one of our agents at a Queensland Magistrates Court or Queensland Government Agent Program (QGAP) office (excludes the Brisbane Magistrates Court)
Pay the fee
You will need to work out the total cost of your order and make sure you pay the correct amount. You can pay:
- at the customer service centre
- by EFTPOS or credit card
- with a business account cheque
- with a bank cheque
- with a money order
- through the mail
- within Australia
- by credit card
- with a business account cheque
- with a bank cheque
- with a money order
- from overseas
- by credit card.
We will accept cash at the customer service centre but prefer contactless payments such as EFTPOS or credit card.
We do not accept personal cheques or cheques issued from outside Australia (in any currency).
Make Australian-drawn cheques and money orders payable to 'Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages'.
Application fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| End a civil partnership (non-refundable) | $83.00 |
| Updated official civil partnership certificate (when original official certificate of registration in Queensland is returned) | Free |
| Replacement official civil partnership certificate with end of partnership note (standard postage included) | $54.40 |
Postage fees
Standard postage is included in the price when you order a certificate to be sent by mail.
You can choose to have your certificate sent by express or registered post for a fee.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Express post | $7.45 |
| Registered post | $5.55 |
| International registered mail | $17.70 |
We value identity protection, so we recommend that you choose registered post to ensure the delivery of your certificate can be tracked and delivered to you more securely within Australia.
International registered mail is used for overseas deliveries. However, this can’t be tracked and signing on delivery is only available in some countries.
Fill in the end a civil partnership application form
Contact us
Email bdm-mail@justice.qld.gov.au, we reply to online enquiries within 2 business days.
Online: our general enquiry form.
By phone: local call* 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
International +61 7 3022 6100 (+10 hours UTC)
(Phone lines are open Monday–Friday, 8.30am–4.30pm)
*Costs may be higher from mobile phones and interstate.
Contact us
Email bdm-mail@justice.qld.gov.au, we reply to online enquiries within 2 business days.
Online: our general enquiry form.
By phone: local call* 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
International +61 7 3022 6100 (+10 hours UTC)
(Phone lines are open Monday–Friday, 8.30am–4.30pm)
*Costs may be higher from mobile phones and interstate.