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Print this pageCivil Partnerships

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 created new legal relationships between two people of the same sex, otherwise known as a civil partnership.

A civil partnership confers almost the same legal and financial rights and responsibilities as a marriage. In the event that your civil partnership breaks down, you will need to take legal steps to dissolve the partnership, similar to a divorce. This is clearly a very serious step and it is important that you receive appropriate legal advice as to all of the options available, particularly in cases where there are children or financial matters to resolve.

At Cozens-Hardy LLP we have experienced and sympathetic lawyers who can assist you with these proceedings.

It is worth noting that the courts are able to make any financial orders that are appropriate, including the sale or division of property, lump sum payments, pension provision and maintenance payments. And, similar to a divorce, the courts will not grant a civil partnership dissolution unless (and until) they are satisfied that there are appropriate arrangements in place concerning any children of the family.

To obtain a civil partnership dissolution, you must establish that the partnership has irretrievably broken down – and one of the four facts below must be proved:

• One or other of you has behaved in such an unreasonable way that the other cannot be expected to go on living with that person
• One person has left the other (against that person's wishes) and the couple have lived apart for more than two years
• The couple have lived apart for two years or more and the person who is being divorced agrees to there being a divorce
• The couple have lived apart for five years or more