Civil Partnerships
From 1 December 2005, the Civil Partnership Act gave same sex couples who undergo a civil ceremony the same legal rights as those governing married couples. Couples looking to register their partnership should be aware of the binding commitment that they are entering into.
Once a partnership has been registered this puts the same sex couples on an equal footing, in many ways, as married couples. Following separation and divorce, legal rights for civil partners now cover financial provision, property and pension sharing, as well as potential inheritance claims on death. As with marriage, a petition to dissolve a civil partnership cannot be filed until after the first anniversary of the civil ceremony and only where the relationship has ‘irretrievably’ broken down.
We can help with:
- Pre-registration Agreements
- Financial Provision
- Children
- Co-habitation
- Dissolution of a Civil Partnership
- Wills, Trusts & Tax Planning
- Administration of Estates
By entering into a Civil Partnership there are a number of legal matters you should be aware of, including:
Wills
Entering into a Registered Civil Partnership will automatically revoke (nullify) any Will you have made previously, unless that Will specifically mentions in it that it is made in contemplation of your Registration with your partner and it must also state that the subsequent Registration is not to revoke that Will.
Death
Under the Rules of Intestacy your civil partner will automatically be one of your heirs if you have registered your partnership, but they will not necessarily be your sole heir (depending on how much you have to leave). Your partner will not automatically be your Administrator (the Intestate equivalent of Executor) and other heirs could apply for this post. If you want to make your partner your sole heir and your executor then you need to make a Will saying so.
Free Half-Hour Interview
We offer an initial half hour, obligation free meeting for all family related matters. You can decide whether you would like us to act on your behalf and agree the next steps to be taken. To arrange a free half-hour interview, please complete our online enquiry form or call us now on the number at the bottom of this page.
We recognise that cost issues are important to you and are transparent about our fees. Before any work is undertaken we will outline what we propose to do on your behalf and provide you with written confirmation of our estimated total fees. We will consult you if the total fees are likely to exceed the original estimate and always provide you with an indication of the timescale it will take to complete your matter.
