1. What is a Civil Partnership?

A civil partnership is a new opt-in legal relationship for committed same-sex couples. It includes a range of rights and responsibilities to reflect that relationship and would help same-sex couples to organise their lives together.

2. Is a Civil Partnership basically ‘marriage’?

No. The Government has no intention of introducing ‘gay marriage’. Civil partnership is an entirely new legal relationship for same-sex couples. The Government recognises that same-sex couples cannot marry and that this can cause them problems in their everyday lives. Civil partnership seeks to address these problems within the new legal status of civil partnership. Partnership registration already operates alongside marriage in many other European countries.

3. Who is involved and what are the requirements?

Two people can enter into a civil partnership providing:

·         they are of the same sex;

·         they are not already in an existing civil partnership or lawfully married;

·         they are not close blood relatives or related through former marriages or civil partnerships;

·         they are both sixteen or over with consent required if under eighteen from an appropriate person in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Scotland, as with marriage, does not require consent of those under eighteen.

      How do people register from a Civil Partnership?

Couples must give notice of intention to register to a registration officer, wait for a minimum period of 15 consecutive days while the registration officer carries out the appropriate checks. On the day of registration a couple will be invited to sign the civil partnership document in the presence of a registration officer and two witnesses.

4. Why introduce the Civil Partnerships Bill?

 Same-sex couples are currently unable to gain legal recognition for their relationships.  This can lead to significant problems in their everyday lives.  Civil Partnership would recognise those committed relationships, and address many of the problems that same sex couples currently face.  This is a measure for a fairer and more inclusive society.

For example, under the Bill, a bereaved civil partner would be entitled to register the death of their partner, currently something same-sex couples can only do if they were present at the time of death. This can cause significant distress at an already very difficult time.

5. How will it affect same sex couples?

Forming a civil partnership will have legal consequences.  The civil partners will assume legal rights and responsibilities with regard to each other and to third parties, for example any children of one of the partners. 

6. Why not open to opposite-sex couples?

Civil partnership is aimed at addressing a specific inequality between opposite-sex couples and same-sex couples. This inequality is one that allows opposite-sex couples to choose to obtain legal recognition through marriage (whether that be celebrated through a religious ceremony, or through a non-religious ceremony)  and prevents same-sex couples from obtaining any formal legal recognition of their relationships.

7. Why not allow home-sharers or siblings and relatives to enter a civil partnership?

The concerns expressed by other home-sharers are a separate issue, and there are currently no plans for changes to the law in that area. Civil partnership is specifically an equality measure for same-sex couples.Family members who may live together already have a legally-recognised relationship to each other. These relationships, which already afford certain rights, are widely acknowledged and accepted in society.  However a same-sex couple who have shared an adult couple relationship over many years, can still be treated as complete strangers by the law.

31 March, 2004