Thinking about Registering a Civil Partnership

Civil partnership is a new legal relationship for same sex couples equivalent (almost) to marriage. Civil partners must be of the same sex and be aged over 16 years old (parental consent is needed for those under 18). As with marriage, civil partners cannot be close relatives and, if either partner has been married or in a previous civil partnership, that relationship must be legally dissolved first.

This new legal relationship will give same sex couples broadly the same rights and responsibilities as married couples –

• Legal recognition of your relationship
• Responsibilities to provide for your partner and any children of the family
• The right for the non-birth parent to obtain parental responsibility for a child
• Equal treatment for tax and benefits
• Greater protection from domestic violence
• Fairer treatment for immigration and nationality matters.

Civil partnership ends only on death, annulment or dissolution, a court-based process like divorce - see Relationship Breakdown. 

Registration 
Before you register 
Pre-partnership agreements
Social Security
Living in the UK