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.

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