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.