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Solicitors Regulation Authority No. 420179

 

Civil partnerships

 

From 5 December 2005 same sex couples have been able to register their partnership so as to give them the same rights and responsibilities that married people have.

 

A civil partnership may be brought to a formal end through death, annulment, separation and dissolution.  

 

To dissolve a partnership a partner has to prove irretrievable breakdown and may prove this by showing one of the following:

 

o that the other partner has behaved unreasonably

o that they have been separated for two years and the other partner consents to a dissolution

o that the partner has been deserted by the other partner

o that they have been separated for five years

 

When a petition for dissolution is issued a partner can ask the court to make an order in connection with the couple’s finances.  For example, a partner can apply to the court for an order for periodical payments, a lump sum, property adjustment, or a pension sharing or attachment order.  When deciding how the assets should be split and what orders should be made the court takes into account the same circumstances it does for couples who get divorced (see relevant information sheet for further details).

 

The Civil Partnership Act 2005 which provides for a formal registered civil partnership has also amended the laws relating to children, adoption and domestic violence as well as wills, administration of estates and family provision and tax.  If you require advice or guidance on these areas you should take legal advice