The Civil Partnership Act 2004 was introduced in December 2005 to enable couples of the same sex to make a legal commitment to each other. A civil partnership can only end when it is dissolved, annulled or when one party dies.

Civil partnerships can also apply to couples where one party is not a British national or lives overseas – like an international marriage.

The ceremony involved in a civil partnership requires a civil partnership registrar to officiate at a ceremony at a venue licensed to hold civil partnership ceremonies, with two witnesses who sign the register afterwards.

The Act also sets out who is eligible to form a civil partnership and prohibits civil partnerships where:

• parties are not of the same sex

• either party is already a civil partner or lawfully married

• either party is under 16 (parental consent is required in these cases)

• parties are within prohibited degrees of relationship (eg close blood relatives).

There are also rules for special cases involving civil partnerships, including civil partnership where:

• one party has undergone gender re-alignment

• one party is terminally ill or housebound

• one party is a non-resident

• one party is subject to immigration controls

Maroof Solicitors offer expert and detailed legal advice on issues relating to the Civil Partnership including legal advice on housing issues and maintenance implications in dissolution of a civil partnership as well as division of financial assets and child care law.

Maroof Solicitors can also advise on Pre-Civil Partnership agreements between couples before they form a civil partnership to ensure that assets and property are protected and children are provided for if it should end.