What is a civil partnership?

A civil partnership is a way of legally recognising your relationship with your partner. With this comes legal rights and responsibilities that do not exist for couples who just live with each other.

What is the difference between a marriage and a civil partnership?

Legally, very little. The partnership has the same responsibilities as in a marriage. The difference is that a marriage is entered into with vows whereas a civil partnership is entered into by signing a civil partnership document.

Why would a straight couple get a civil partnership?

There are a whole host of reasons why a heterosexual couple might want to have a civil partnership over a marriage. It is a way of legalising your relationship with your partner with the effect being the same as a marriage but without the religious or historical connotations associated with a marriage.

Does it cost anything to register a civil partnership?

There is a fee both for giving notice of your intention to enter a civil partnership and for registering your civil partnership. Further information and specific fees can be obtained from the local authority in which you intend to register.

How do I bring a civil partnership to an end?

Other than through death, a civil partnership can only come to an end by applying to the court for a civil partnership dissolution. You cannot make this application until the civil partnership has lasted for at least one year. The process is exactly the same as a divorce for married couples.

Can I convert my civil partnership to a marriage?

If you are a same sex couple who registered your civil partnership in England and Wales, you can convert your civil partnership into a marriage. Opposite-sex civil partners cannot convert their civil partnership into a marriage.

What is a pre-registration agreement? My partner said he wants us to have one.

This is the civil partnership equivalent of a pre-nuptial agreement. Before you register your partnership, you can set out in an agreement your rights and obligations towards each other as well as what will happen if your relationship breaks down.

Is a civil partnership the same as having a common law spouse?

No, it is not the same. Civil partnerships give protection in the event a relationship breaks down. The idea of a common law marriage or spouse is a myth and there are far fewer legal or financial protections for couples who simply live together.

Civil partnerships

An important alternative to marriage, a civil partnership is almost identical, but there are one or two key differences.

Available to both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples, the process of entering into a civil partnership is very similar to a civil marriage. To register a civil partnership, you and your partner must sign a civil partnership document in front of two witnesses and a registrar. And, in the event of the partnership breaking down, the divorce equivalent – called a civil partnership dissolution – is identical to the no-fault divorce process. The same considerations about the arrangements for any children and a financial settlement need to be addressed.

However, there are some differences – particularly for international families – where specialist legal advice is essential.

Our lawyers

Our civil partnership lawyers can help you whether you’re entering into a civil partnership or looking to dissolve one. What our lawyers are particularly known for is our ability to deal with complex financial or child law issues – from pre-partnership agreements to using a surrogate to have a child. We provide advice on:

Pre- or post-civil partnership agreements
Wealth protection
Fertility, surrogacy and legal parentage issues
Civil partnership dissolution
Financial consequences of the partnership breaking down
Arrangements for children
The process of converting a civil partnership into a marriage (only available for same-sex couples at the moment)
The recognition of your civil partnership in other countries (and if you have had a civil partnership in another country, whether your civil partnership is recognised here)

What do you need to know?

Civil partnerships have been around since 2005. Initially, they provided legal recognition and protection for same-sex couples. The law was changed in 2013 and, since then, same-sex couples have been able to have a civil partnership or a marriage (as well as convert a same-sex civil partnership into a same-sex marriage). Following a high profile campaign, the law had a further change in December 2019 when it was decided that opposite-sex couples should also have the option of entering into a civil partnership.

In many ways, civil partners and married couples are treated identically, but there are some areas where you do have to watch out for differences.

Adoption – although civil partners can jointly adopt a child from the UK, it is not always so straightforward if you are adopting a child from abroad. Some countries do not allow same-sex couples to adopt, even if they are in a civil partnership. If you are in this position, expert legal advice is essential.
Recognition of your English civil partnership in other countries – some countries simply do not recognise the concept of civil partnerships or, if they do, they are not equivalent to an English civil partnership when it comes to rights or responsibilities. This is an important consideration for families who are thinking of moving to another country, but it can also impact on travel, emergencies abroad and if your partner is not from the UK. To understand the implications, speak to a specialist civil partnership lawyer.
Pensions – pensions and civil partnerships have had a bumpy ride. However, it is now against the law for an occupational pension scheme, and for some private pension schemes, not to offer the same benefits to a civil partner as a married spouse. This includes death in service benefits as well as pension sharing orders on civil partnership dissolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a civil partnership?

A civil partnership is a way of legally recognising your relationship with your partner. With this comes legal rights and responsibilities that do not exist for couples who just live with each other.
What is the difference between a marriage and a civil partnership?

Legally, very little. The partnership has the same responsibilities as in a marriage. The difference is that a marriage is entered into with vows whereas a civil partnership is entered into by signing a civil partnership document.
Why would a straight couple get a civil partnership?

There are a whole host of reasons why a heterosexual couple might want to have a civil partnership over a marriage. It is a way of legalising your relationship with your partner with the effect being the same as a marriage but without the religious or historical connotations associated with a marriage.
Does it cost anything to register a civil partnership?

There is a fee both for giving notice of your intention to enter a civil partnership and for registering your civil partnership. Further information and specific fees can be obtained from the local authority in which you intend to register.
How do I bring a civil partnership to an end?

Other than through death, a civil partnership can only come to an end by applying to the court for a civil partnership dissolution. You cannot make this application until the civil partnership has lasted for at least one year. The process is exactly the same as a divorce for married couples.
Can I convert my civil partnership to a marriage?

If you are a same sex couple who registered your civil partnership in England and Wales, you can convert your civil partnership into a marriage. Opposite-sex civil partners cannot convert their civil partnership into a marriage.
What is a pre-registration agreement? My partner said he wants us to have one.

This is the civil partnership equivalent of a pre-nuptial agreement. Before you register your partnership, you can set out in an agreement your rights and obligations towards each other as well as what will happen if your relationship breaks down.
Is a civil partnership the same as having a common law spouse?

No, it is not the same. Civil partnerships give protection in the event a relationship breaks down. The idea of a common law marriage or spouse is a myth and there are far fewer legal or financial protections for couples who simply live together.