Gross & Co. Solicitors: Civil Partnerships

In November 2004, the Civil Partnerships Bill was passed by Parliament. The first Civil Partnership was registered on 21 December 2005. For same sex couples, this was the equivalent of the Velvet Revolution. For the first time, same sex couples acquired the same rights responsibilities and obligations, as heterosexual married couples.

Once registered, a Civil Partnership is only capable of dissolution in the same way that a heterosexual marriage is dissolved; through a process which is as near as makes no odds to divorce. The same financial implications follow on the dissolution of a Civil Partnership, as follow on the dissolution of a heterosexual marriage.

It is to be hoped that having taken so long to achieve legal recognition for same sex relationships, the incidence of dissolution of Civil Partnerships will be lower than the incidence of dissolution of marriages. A Civil Partnership cannot be dissolved within 1 year of its registration, in the same way that a marriage can not be dissolved until 1 year after it has taken place.

Civil Partners can enter into Pre-Partnership Financial Agreement. A Pre-Partnership Financial Agreement is, to all intents and purposes, the same as a Pre-Marital Agreement for heterosexual couples.

For further in information about Pre-Partnership Financial Agreements, please click here.