A civil partnership provides couples with legal recognition of their relationship and financial protection without the need for marriage.
If you need help dissolving a civil partnership or understanding your rights, our team of civil partnership solicitors can provide expert and compassionate legal advice and guidance.
We appreciate how difficult separating from a partner can be, and we’re here to make sure the legal aspect of the process runs as smoothly and painlessly as possible.
At Mark Reynolds Solicitors, we provide free initial consultations and straightforward, friendly, and sensitive legal advice throughout the North West of England.
Contact our team of civil partnership solicitors today by calling 0800 002 9577.
What is a civil partnership?
A civil partnership is a legal union allowed in England and Wales under the Civil Partnership Act 2004, which gives similar legal rights to married couples.
Before same-sex marriages were legalised by the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, many same-sex couples entered into civil partnerships to gain the same rights and responsibilities in principle as a couple in a civil marriage.
Since 2020, same-sex couples in civil partnerships have had the option to convert their civil partnership into a marriage. Opposite-sex couples now also have the option to enter into a civil partnership arrangement if they prefer this to the institution of marriage.
Many couples, both same-sex and opposite-sex, now opt for a civil partnership over marriage to give their relationship legal recognition and financial security without the religious connotations of marriage.
What rights do people in civil partnerships have?
In the UK, civil partners have the same legal rights and protections as a married couple.
This includes but is not limited to:
- Property rights – Civil partners have equal claims to property rights and equitable treatment during the division of assets
- Tax benefits – Civil partners benefit from exemptions in inheritance tax and can transfer assets between each other without tax implications
- Pension benefits – Civil partners are entitled to pension benefits, including survivor benefits
- Social security benefits – Civil partners are entitled to Social Security benefits
- Parental responsibility – Civil partners can gain parental responsibility for their partner’s children, even if they are not the biological parent
- Maintenance obligations – Civil partners have a legal obligation to provide reasonable maintenance for each other and any children of the partnership
- Life insurance recognition – Civil partners can be named beneficiaries in life insurance policies
- Next of kin rights – Civil partners are recognised as next of kin, granting them the right to make medical decisions or be informed about their partner’s condition
If you have questions about your rights and responsibilities as a civil partner or after a civil partnership has broken down, our team of civil partnership solicitors is here to help.
Civil partnership dissolution
Dissolving a civil partnership follows the same process as a divorce. You cannot apply to dissolve a civil partnership in England and Wales until you have been in the partnership for at least a year.
As of April 6 2022, when no-fault divorces were introduced, civil partners no longer need to prove any wrongdoing or place blame to end their partnership.
As with a divorce, all they need to do is provide a statement that confirms that their partnership has broken down irretrievably.
If both parties agree on the dissolution and documents are filled out correctly and submitted promptly, a civil partnership dissolution usually takes six to nine months to process.
Our civil partnership dissolution solicitors understand that separating from a partner can be an emotional and stressful time. They provide legal advice and assistance with preparing and filing the dissolution papers to help the process run smoothly.
We also provide guidance and support with registering a civil partnership, pre-partnership agreements, family formation, and negotiating financial settlements and child arrangements following the breakdown of a civil partnership.
Why choose Mark Reynolds Solicitors for civil partnership services?
Mark Reynolds Solicitors specialises in family law and understands both the legal and the emotional side of going through a separation.
When dissolving a civil partnership, we always have the family’s best interests at the heart of the process, particularly when children are involved.
Whether you require help filling out the application forms correctly to ensure the process is as quick and painless as possible, assistance with splitting finances, or agreement on child arrangements, our team of civil partnership dissolution solicitors is here to support you every step.
If you have any questions or concerns about the breakdown of your civil partnership or require legal support, call 0800 002 9577 or complete the contact form to the right, and a specialist civil partnership solicitor will be in touch.