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What is a civil partnership? |
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Civil partners will have equal treatment in a wide range of legal matters with married couples, including:
- Tax, including inheritance tax
- Employment Benefits
- Most state and occupational pension benefits
- Income related benefits, tax credits and child support
- Duty to provide reasonable maintenance for your civil partners and any children of the family
- Ability to apply for parental responsibility for your civil partner’s child
- Inheritance of a tenancy agreement
- Recognition under intestacy rules
- Access to fatal accidents compensation
- Protection from domestic violence
- Recognition from immigration and nationality purposes
When civil partnership is introduced there will be important changes
affecting same-sex couples who claim income related benefits,
regardless of whether the couple decide to form a civil partnership.
In order to form a civil partnership you must first give notice. You
can give notice of your intention to form a civil partnership from 5
December 2005 and the earliest a civil partnership can be formed is 21
December 2005. A civil partnership can be formed in England and Wales
at a register office or an approved premise.
The General Register Office has information on the process and costs of forming a civil partnership.
The Department for Work and Pensions has published a leaflet
containing information on how partnerships may affect your benefits.
The Woman and Equality Unit has published some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about civil partnerships.
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