Civil Partnership

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into operation on 5 December 2005 and enables same sex couples to register as civil partners of each other.  Such partners were then afforded similar rights to married couples in terms of divorce and potential associated financial orders.

As to procedure, this is identical to that for divorce and the financial procedures referred to in our specific website pages dedicated to the subject.  The main difference with dissolution of a civil partnerships is that the parties cannot dissolve their relationship on the basis of adultery.  For information on the issue of civil partnerships generally, we would direct you to the government information site www.direct.gov.uk, where you will find a more comprehensive explanation of your rights and responsibilities