Civil partnership

Civil partnership is a new legal relationship, which can be registered by two people of the same sex. It gives same-sex couples the ability to obtain legal recognition for their relationship.

Civil partners will have equal treatment in a wide range of legal matters with married couples, including:

• Tax, including inheritance tax
• Employment benefits
• Most state and occupational pension benefits
• Income related benefits, tax credits and child support
• Duty to provide reasonable maintenance for your civil partner and any children of the family
• Ability to apply for parental responsibility for your civil partner’s child
• Inheritance of a tenancy agreement
• Recognition under intestacy rules
• Access to fatal accidents compensation
• Protection from domestic violence
• Recognition for immigration and nationality purposes

Who can register?

Two people may register a civil partnership provided:

• They are of the same sex
• They are not already in a civil partnership or lawfully married
• They are not within prohibited degrees of relationship (eg closely related)
• They are both aged 16 or over (and, if either of them is under 18 the consent of the appropriate person has been obtained)