Personal Law > Family > Civil Partnership Dissolution

Civil Partnership Dissolution

By registering a civil partnership, you are giving your relationship legal recognition, legal rights and responsibilities. Similar to divorce; a civil partnership can be dissolved if either partner is no longer satisfied with the relationship.

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A civil partnership is a legally registered relationship available to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples in the UK, offering almost identical legal rights, tax benefits, and responsibilities to marriage.

It is formed by signing a civil partnership document, does not require spoken vows, and is ended through dissolution.

Key Aspects of Civil Partnerships

  • Eligibility: Partners must be 18 or over (in England and Wales), not already married or in a civil partnership, and not closely related.

  • Formation: Unlike marriage, a civil partnership is a secular, civil ceremony formed by signing the document, though couples may choose to hold a ceremony.

  • Rights and Benefits:

Registered partners enjoy equal rights regarding pensions, inheritance tax, next of kin, and immigration.

  • Legal Differences: While similar to marriage, civil partnerships are dissolved (not divorced) and are strictly secular, preventing religious services during the registration.

  • Recognition: Civil partnerships formed in the UK are generally recognised internationally, though rights may vary.

  • Same-Sex/Opposite-Sex: Originally introduced in 2005 for same-sex couples, the law was expanded to include opposite-sex couples in 2019

Dissolution of Civil Partnership

Dissolving a civil partnership in the UK requires proving the relationship has broken down irretrievably, which can be done jointly or individually after one year of partnership. The process is a Court Application, involving a conditional order followed by a final order to legally end the union.

Key Steps and Information:

  • Requirements: You must have been in the civil partnership for at least one year before applying.

  • Grounds: The sole ground is that the partnership has "broken down irretrievably".


The Process:

  • Application: Submit an application online or by post, along with your original certificate.

  • Conditional Order: You must wait 20 weeks after starting the process to apply for a conditional order, which states the court sees no reason to stop the dissolution.

  • Final Order: Six weeks and one day after the conditional order, you can apply for the final order, which officially ends the partnership.

    Joint vs. Sole:

  • You can apply alone or jointly with your partner.

If you cannot apply for dissolution, you may be able to apply for a legal separation. If you are in Scotland or Northern Ireland, different procedures apply.

TESTIMONIAL

"I am very grateful for the advice and support I received from From Foys Solicitors. Jayne Kirtley provided clear, professional, and well-considered guidance regarding my divorce proceedings."

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Frequently Asked Questions

No, a "no-fault" system introduced in April 2022 means your partner cannot contest the dissolution, except on very limited technical grounds.
Financial matters are handled separately from the legal dissolution of the partnership. It is advised to reach an agreement and obtain a "consent order" from the court to make the financial arrangement legally binding.
If you cannot agree on arrangements for children, you can apply for a Child Arrangements Order to decide who the children live with and how they spend time with each partner.
Instructing a solicitor is not legally mandatory, but it is advised to ensure financial and child arrangements are legally sound.
No, you must have been in the civil partnership for over one year to apply for a dissolution. If you have been together for less than one year, you cannot use this process.
The process is almost identical to divorce, but it is termed "dissolution" for civil partnerships, and the documents are tailored for this structure.
You will need to obtain a certified copy from the local register office where the civil partnership was registered
No, a dissolution order only ends the partnership status. Financial, property, and pension assets must be separated via a separate Consent Order.
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