Civil Partnerships

Same-sex couples are able to register their relationship as a civil partnership, as long as both partners are aged 16 or over. Since 2013 however same-sex couples are legally allowed to enter into marriage, giving same-sex couples the choice to be married or to be in a civil partnership.

Entering into a Civil Partnership

If you are contemplating entering into a Civil Partnership, we can help you understand the legal implications and help you decide if a Civil Partnership or a marriage best fits your needs. You can protect your financial position by entering into a Pre Registration Agreement so that if things don't work out you already have an agreement in place.

Dissolution of civil partnerships

When a civil partnership ends it is known as 'dissolution'. Like a marriage to have a dissolution of a civil partnership there must be a reason that the relationship has broken down, the reasons for the breakdown

• Your partner has behaved in a way by which it cannot be reasonable to live with them, this can be if your partner has been unfaithful, violent etc
• Desertion - A person has left their partner for a period of 2 years.
• You have lived apart from your partner for at least 2 years with consent to do so.
• You have lived apart from your partner for at least 5 years without consent.

In order to proceed with the with the dissolution of your civil partnership evidence of one of the four items above must be provided.

For more information, why not click the links below or download one of our helpful guides

We can help you with any of the following: