Civil Partnership Dissolution Solicitors based in Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and London
Ending a civil partnership means more than applying to a court. There are finances to settle, property to divide, and where children are involved, arrangements to agree. Our civil partnership dissolution solicitors across Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and London will guide you through the process plainly and without unnecessary complication, so you know exactly where you stand at every stage.
Speak to one of our civil partnership dissolution solicitors on 0800 2800 421 or via our online enquiry form.
What is a civil partnership?
A civil partnership is a legally recognised relationship between two people, registered under the Civil Partnership Act 2004. It carries the same legal rights and responsibilities as marriage, including protections around property, inheritance, pensions, and tax. Civil partnerships are available to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples in England and Wales.
What our civil partnership dissolution solicitors can help with
Civil partnership dissolution touches almost every area of your life, not just your legal status. We handle the full process, from the initial application through to financial settlement and arrangements for children.
The dissolution application
We manage the dissolution process from start to finish: preparing and submitting the application, dealing with the court on your behalf, and keeping you informed at every stage. Whether you apply jointly or as a sole applicant, we will make sure the process runs without unnecessary delay.
Financial settlement and property
Dissolving a civil partnership does not automatically resolve your finances. Until a court order is in place, either partner can still make a financial claim. We help you reach a fair settlement covering property, savings, investments, pensions, and business interests, and make it legally binding through a consent order. Where there are concerns about one partner concealing or dissipating assets, we can advise on the steps available to protect your position.
Pensions
Pensions are often the largest asset in a dissolution and one of the most overlooked. We advise on pension sharing and offsetting, making sure any agreement reflects the true long-term value of what each partner holds.
Child arrangements and maintenance
If you have children, their welfare comes first. We help you agree where they will live, how they will spend time with each parent, and how they will be financially supported. Our child arrangements solicitors and child maintenance solicitors work closely with the dissolution team throughout.
Pre-civil partnership agreements and wider planning
If you want greater certainty before any breakdown occurs, we can advise on pre-civil partnership agreements. We also work across departments on wills, inheritance tax, and trust arrangements, so if your dissolution has wider implications, we can bring in the right expertise without you needing to go elsewhere.
How the civil partnership dissolution process works
Dissolving a civil partnership follows a clear legal process. Most straightforward cases complete in around six to eight months.
- Application
One or both partners submits a dissolution application to the court, confirming the partnership has irretrievably broken down. The court fee is £628. You will need your original civil partnership certificate.
- 20-week reflection period
Once the application is issued, a mandatory 20-week period begins. This is also the time to progress financial and children arrangements.
- Conditional order
After the 20 weeks, you can apply for a conditional order — the court’s confirmation that there is no reason not to end the partnership.
- Final order
Six weeks after the conditional order, you can apply for the final order. This legally ends the civil partnership.
Why choose Trethowans as your civil partnership dissolution solicitors
Recognised expertise
Trethowans is recommended as a top-tier firm in both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners guides. Our family solicitors are ranked among the best in the region, with offices in Southampton, Salisbury, Bournemouth, Winchester, Poole, and London.
Resolution-accredited solicitors
We are members of Resolution, the national body for family law professionals committed to resolving disputes constructively and with as little conflict as possible. Where dissolution can be handled without unnecessary confrontation, we will always look for that path first.
Straightforward advice from the start
Civil partnership dissolution involves more than a court application. Finances, property, pensions, and children all need addressing, and getting them wrong can have lasting consequences. We tell you clearly what your options are, what a fair outcome looks like, and how to get there.
Broader expertise when you need it
Dissolution rarely exists in isolation. It can affect your will, your tax position, and any trust arrangements you have in place. Our family and private client teams work closely together, so you get joined-up advice across all of it without needing to go elsewhere.
Speak to our civil partnership dissolution solicitors
Ending a civil partnership is a significant step, and the decisions you make on finances, property, and children will have a long-term impact. Our solicitors will give you clear, practical advice from the outset, so you understand your options and can move forward with confidence.
Meet us in person
We have offices across the south of England and a base in London, making it straightforward to meet a civil partnership dissolution solicitors face to face. You can find us in Bournemouth, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton and Winchester, with London appointments available on request.
Get in touch
Call us today on 0800 2800 421 or make an enquiry online to arrange your free initial consultation.
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Frequently asked questions about dissolving a civil partnership
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Civil partnership dissolution is the legal process that formally ends a civil partnership. It is the equivalent of divorce for married couples and results in a final order from the court that legally dissolves the partnership. Until that final order is granted, you remain civil partners in law, with all the financial rights and responsibilities that entails.
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Most straightforward civil partnership dissolutions take around six to eight months. The process includes a mandatory 20-week reflection period after the application is issued, followed by a six-week gap between the conditional order and the final order. Cases involving disputed finances or child arrangements will typically take longer.
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To dissolve a civil partnership in England and Wales, you apply to the court confirming the partnership has irretrievably broken down. You can apply jointly with your partner or as a sole applicant. You will need your civil partnership certificate and to pay the court fee of £628. Most straightforward cases complete in around six to eight months.
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The only ground for dissolving a civil partnership is irretrievable breakdown of the partnership. You do not need to prove fault or assign blame. This no-fault approach was introduced under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 and applies to all dissolutions in England and Wales.
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The court fee for a dissolution application is £628. Legal costs will depend on the complexity of your case, in particular, whether there are financial or children matters to resolve alongside the dissolution itself. We can give you a clear picture of likely costs at your initial consultation.
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Dissolution and divorce follow the same legal process and carry the same rights and consequences. The key difference is terminology: dissolution applies to civil partnerships, divorce to marriages. One practical distinction is that adultery cannot be cited in a dissolution, though this has no major impact under the current no-fault rules.
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Dissolving a civil partnership does not resolve financial claims. Either partner can make a financial claim even after the dissolution is finalised unless a court order is in place. A consent order, agreed by both parties and approved by the court, is the only way to achieve a clean break and prevent future claims.
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Yes. You can apply as a sole applicant and the dissolution can proceed even if your partner does not engage with the process. Your partner cannot contest the dissolution on the grounds that the relationship has not broken down, they can only raise technical objections. We can advise you on the steps available if your partner is unresponsive or causing delay.
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Yes. Once the final order is granted, you are free to marry or enter into a new civil partnership. You should keep the final order safe, as you will need it as proof of your status when remarrying or updating official records.
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