Civil Partnership Regulations

In December 2005, the much awaited Civil Partnership Act came into effect, giving legal recognition to the relationships of same sex couples. By entering into a civil partnership, couples obtain the new legal status of “Civil Partners”, as opposed to the traditional husband and wife status. Applicable to all UK and Northern Ireland residents, Civil Partnerships give same sex couples similar legal benefits to that of heterosexual married couples, such as pension and inheritance rights.

You need to register your intention to form a partnership by giving fifteen days notice to your local registration authority, where you must have been resident for at least seven days. If you decide to hold your partnership outside your local authority area, then you will need to inform the relevant registration authority of your choice.

Forming a Civil Partnership differs from a Civil Marriage quite uniquely, in that it only requires the signing of a register in the presence of a registrar. There is no legal requirement for any ceremony in the traditional sense to take place and this therefore allows couples to be completely creative in the way that they express their commitment to one another, a subject which I will be covering in future articles!

Article by London Based Wedding Planner Lester Gethings

Image Courtesy of Surrey Wedding Photographer Matt Pereira Photography

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