anchor.diff:  Same-sex relationships in Switzerland that are recognised as civil partnerships under British law are known as ’eingetragene Partnerschaft’, ’partenariat enregistré’, ’unione domestica registrata’ or ’partenadi registrà’ (’registered partnership’).
   
  -Contact the Civil Register Office where you’re entering into a civil partnership to find out about local laws, including what documents you’ll need.
  +##Before you start
   
  -[Your closest Swiss embassy](http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps.html) may be able to give you advice, or put you in touch with the relevant local authorities if you don’t know who to contact.
  +s1. Contact the Civil Register Office where you’re entering into a civil partnership to find out about the availability of dates, local laws and what documents you’ll need.
  +
  +s2. Contact [your closest Swiss embassy](https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html) to start the civil partnership process.
  +
   
   ^You should [get legal advice](/government/publications/switzerland-list-of-lawyers) and check the [travel advice for Switzerland](/foreign-travel-advice/switzerland) before making any plans.^
   
  
positive.code: %The name on all documents you provide must appear exactly as they do on your passport - if not, the authorities may refuse to allow the ceremony to go ahead. You may need to provide evidence if the name on your passport is different to your birth certificate (eg marriage or civil partnership certificate, or deed poll).%
  
  You should check if your civil status declaration needs to be legalised (certified as genuine) by the local authorities in Switzerland.
  
negative.code: - your [full birth certificate](/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate) or [naturalisation certificate](/get-replacement-citizenship-certificate)
  - proof of residence, such as a residence certificate - check with the consulate to find out what you need
  
  If you’ve been divorced, widowed or previously in a civil partnership, you'll also need to bring the appropriate original document:
  
  - a [decree absolute or final order](/copy-decree-absolute-final-order)
  - a civil partnership dissolution or annulment certificate
  