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Civil Partnerships for Heterosexual Couples
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Civil Partnerships vs Marriage
Civil Partnerships award essentially the same rights to couples as Marriage does. There are a few notable differences between Civil Partnerships and Marriage:
- Civil Partnerships cannot be formed in a religious ceremony on a religious premise
- Marriage is formed by vows; Civil Partnerships are formed by signing of the Civil Partnership document
- Only the father’s name features on the marriage certificate where as both parent’s names appear on the civil partnership document
- Marriages are ended by divorce and Civil Partnerships by dissolution although the procedure is fundamentally the same
- A Civil Partnership is not voidable on the basis of non-consummation (nor does it make a same sex marriage voidable)
- Adultery is only a ground for dissolution (or divorce) if it is committed with a person of the opposite sex
Development of the Law
Civil partnerships were introduced in the Civil Partnership Act 2004 as a way for same sex couples to have their relationships legally recognised. This was a welcome development for same sex couples who previously could not benefit from any of the rights that are awarded to opposite sex couples on marriage.
Until the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013...
Read the full article here.
