Civil Partnerships
Same-sex couples can have their relationships legally recognised as ‘civil partnerships’.
Civil partners must be treated the same as married couples on a wide range of legal matters, including:
- tax, including Inheritance Tax
- employment benefits
- most state and occupational pension benefits
- income-related benefits, tax credits and child support
- their duty to provide reasonable maintenance for their civil partner and any children of the family
- ability to apply for parental responsibility for their civil partner’s child
- inheritance of tenancy agreements
- protection from domestic violence
- immigration and nationality purposes
How to register a civil partnership
In order to form a civil partnership you must first give notice of your plans. This involves letting a registration office know about your intention to register a civil partnership.
Once you’ve done that, notices are publicised by the registration authority for a period of 15 days, similar to marriage notices. A civil partnership can be formed in England and Wales at register offices or other approved locations.
