logo
traditional values modern thinking
go to individual servicesgo to business servicesgo to individual servicescall
Home > Individual Services > Relationships and Family > Separation > Same sex relationships

Same sex relationships

Same sex couples have been able to register as Civil partners since December 2005. Within such a formalised relationship the parties have similar rights, obligations and duties as those within a civil marriage. There are however several distinctions. Heterosexual couples cannot enter into civil partnerships. There is no provision for religious registration.

A civil partnership is defined as;

  • A relationship between two people of the same sex formed upon registration of a civil partnership where registration takes place in the UK or outside the UK under an order in Council; or
  • By virtue of having registered an overseas relationship
A partnership will end on the first to occur of the following events:
  • Death
  • Dissolution; or
  • Annulment.
As with marriage dissolution will occur on a finding that the relationship has broken down irretrievably. The facts that can be relied upon are similar to those in divorce with the significant omission of the fact of adultery. The relationship must have endured for at least a year for one of the parties to be able to ask for it to be dissolved.

The financial aspects of dissolution are similar to divorce but again there are distinctions. As civil partnerships are a recent innovation the law is in its infancy. We are able to provide expert and applied advice on this area of law.

You and Your Family

Relationships & Family
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Property Dispute Resolution
Residential Property
Employment
Probate & Estates
Tax Planning
Trusts
Wills
Personal Injury

You and Your Business

Company Commercial
Commercial Property
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Property Dispute Resolution
Insolvency & Business Recovery
Employment
Notary
International Network

Specialist Sectors

Charities & Education
Agriculture
Professional

Corporate Responsibility

Lawyers are not always recognised for the part they play in community based initiatives. Our solicitors have helped sports clubs, community projects and charities function in many different ways.  Warners are keen to ensure help reaches Kent based initiatives wherever we can. We not only provide the skills you would expect from lawyers and solicitors but also try and fundraise and organise help on a voluntary basis from our staff. Our solicitors and clients are mainly based in Kent so it follows that the sports, arts and charitable projects are also part of the same community.

LSA

We are members of the Legal Sector Alliance. The alliance is an inclusive movement of law firms and organisations committed to working collaboratively to take action on climate change by reducing their carbon footprint and adopting environmentally sustainable practices.

Read more

Latest news

  • Contract Clinches Fee for Ex-Advisers It is not uncommon for a company to switch financial advisers when it is seeking to do a deal, but doing so without a full appreciation of the implications of the contract with the financial advisers who have been shown the door can be an expensive mistake...
  • An Arrangement Among Friends or a Business? The Financial Services Authority (FSA) imposes a strict regulatory regime on persons operating in the financial services area by way of business and this includes the licensing of ‘deposit takers’. Recently, three men were charged with taking money from clients to provide loans for businesses that were unable to secure funding from banks...
  • Are you Caught by the Carbon Reduction Commitment? Companies who are concerned whether they may have to register under the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme may need to have advice on the scheme, and how to reduce their carbon footprint...
View all newsnews