Civil Partnerships

History in the making 

The last forty years have seen major changes in the laws relating to lesbians and gay men.

On a par with the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967, the Civil Partnership Act is a very important step forward. For the first time, it gives same sex couples legal recognition and similar rights to married heterosexual couples. The Act relates to England and Wales providing both partners are British or European Union nationals.The Civil Partnership Act means that register offices up and down the country are able to register same  sex couples as legal ‘spouses’. All legislation which affects spouses, will now also include same sex couples.

The Civil Partnership Act has affected major legal change in the way we are viewed in terms of tax planning, inheritance tax and property rights.

Rights however bring obligations in law; as civil partnerships bring similar rights to marriage, they can also inevitably lead to divorce. By entering into a Civil Partnership, you will give your partner rights to your property, pension, investments, children (if you have any) etc.

Before booking the honeymoon, lets see what saying ‘I do’ will mean to you and your beloved…