Other family matters
Same sex couples & civil partnerships
Under the Civil Partnership Act 2004, couples who form a civil partnership will have the legal status of civil partner and enjoy equal treatment with married couples in 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
- duty to provide reasonable maintenance for any children of the family
- ability to apply for parental responsibility for your civil partners child
- inheritance of a tenancy agreement
- recognition under intestacy rules
- access to fatal accidents compensation
- protection from domestic abuse
- recognition from immigration and nationality purposes
You can form a civil partnership at a register office or an approved premise, after first giving notice to the Registrar. You must then wait 15 days.
You may wish to consider an agreement similar to a pre-nuptial or cohabitation agreement.
