Caring Civil Partnerships Solicitors
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The Civil Partnership Act 2004 enabled couples in same sex relationships to enter into a form of marriage and register their relationship in a Civil Ceremony.
The effect of entering into a Civil Partnership is very similar to the effect of entering into a marriage. The Civil Partnership imposes upon the couple a legal status which brings with it various rights and obligations to include financial obligations.
The benefits of a pre-partnership agreement for Civil Partnerships
Before entering into a Civil Partnership agreement, all parties need to ensure that they have considered carefully what their plans are for the future in respect of finances, family and what will happen if the relationship breaks down.
All of this can be agreed beforehand and can form part of an agreement very similar to a pre-marital or pre-nuptial agreement. If both parties have been fully and properly advised then the pre-partnership agreement can be legally enforceable should the Civil Partnership breakdown.
Why choose Morecrofts for your pre-partnership agreement?
At Morecrofts, our specialist family law team have a wealth of experience in helping same sex couples to plan for their future. We give pragmatic advice during what can be a heady and exciting time, prioritising what is best for you and your partner.
We understand how worrying legal costs can be so have a range of payment options available to suit your budget and needs. We offer fixed fee packages alongside our traditional fee system and we work with you to decide which is best for you and your family. We will assess whether you are eligible for legal aid and, as we have a contract with the Legal Aid Agency, we can grant legal aid immediately if necessary. To find out more about our first-class legal services, call us on: 0151 668 0290 or use the enquiry form.
What is a Civil Partnership?
It is a legal status acquired by couples under the Civil Partnership Act 2004 who register as civil partners of each other.
When introduced the Civil Partnership Act 2004 only provided for same sex couples to be able to form civil partnerships. However, since December 2019 opposite sex couples have also been able to form civil partnerships.
What are the advantages of a Civil Partnership?
The main advantage of registering as civil partners is that it provides the couple with similar legal rights to married couples. This contrasts with unmarried couples who have much more limited legal rights and responsibilities even when they have been living together.
Other reasons why a couple may choose to enter into a civil partnership rather than marry are because they object to the religious connotations of a traditional marriage or having been married before they have decided they do not want to repeat the process.
How to get a Civil Partnership?
You can register your civil partnership at the Registry Office or any venue that has been legally approved to register civil partnerships. However, as is the case with couples who are intending to marry, before you can register the civil partnership you must first have given notice of your intention.
How can I dissolve a Civil Partnership?
After a couple have been civil partners for at least one year an Application can be made to dissolve the civil partnership. As is the case with divorce proceedings the only ground for the dissolution of the civil partnership is that the civil partnership has irretrievably broken down. The procedure for dissolving a civil partnership is essentially the same as the procedure for obtaining a divorce.
What’s the difference between Civil Partnership and marriage?
A civil partnership is entered into by signing a civil partnership document and is ended by dissolution while marriage is entered into by vows and ended by divorce.
Although civil partnerships do not come with the same traditional and religious connotations as marriages, the legal rights and responsibilities including property rights, pension benefits and the ability to obtain parental responsibility for a partner’s child are very similar to those enjoyed by married couples.
How much does it cost to dissolve a Civil Partnership?
For a straightforward application to obtain a Dissolution Order we change a fixed fee of between £500 and £750 plus VAT pus the Court Issue Fee.