Civil Partnerships

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into operation on the 5th December 2005 and reflects the growing impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 on our legal culture. The Act is designed to enhance the rights of same-sex partners and to remove discrimination against them. Same-sex partners can now obtain legal recognition of their relationship by registering a Civil Partnership; and many previous Acts and regulations have been changed to recognise Civil Partnerships. This means provision is now made in law to deal with relationship breakdown as well as other areas such as children, domestic violence, Social Security and housing.