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Commission for Equality and Human Rights
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Home | Lesbian and Gay Issues | Civil Partnership |
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Civil Partnership |
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From 5 December 2005, same sex couples can have their relationships legally recognised. From then on, anyone who registers a civil partnership will have the same rights as a married couple in areas like tax, social security, inheritance and workplace benefits.
The new rights apply to the UK as a whole, but the information provided on this site deals with registering a civil partnership in England and Wales.
For more information about civil partnership in Scotland go to www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/justice/civil/18313/12657 www.equality-network.org/Aptronym/home.nsf/legislationall/7E008AC9E16E9E6880256FE9003DAF9A
The Northern Ireland guidance is available on the Office of Law Reform website www.olrni.gov.uk.
Look here to view information on the number of civil partnerships formed.
Information about the Implementation of the Civil Partnership Act 2004
Civil partnership in other countries
Denmark introduced the first civil partnership status in 1989. The following countries now have some form of civil partnership registration: Belgium, Canada (Quebec, Nova Scotia), Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, USA (Vermont, Connecticut). The rights and responsibilities attached to the different arrangements vary.
The UK’s civil partnership status is not the same thing as gay marriage. Only the Netherlands and Belgium have legislated to allow gay marriage.
(top) See also
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Updated November 2006 | © Crown copyright |
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