Our skilled Leeds, Harrogate and York based family law specialists are highly experienced in working with clients who are thinking about entering a civil partnership – or who are seeking to separate and dissolve one.
The Civil Partnership Act came into force on 5th December 2005. This legislation enabled same-sex couples to formalise their relationship before changes to the law in 2014 allowed them to legally marry.
Today, more than 120,000 people in the UK are in civil partnerships. As well as creating legally recognised relationships, the registered partnership gives similar rights and responsibilities as those of married couples. These include rights over properties, savings, pension benefits – and for maintenance in the event the relationship breaks down.
A civil partnership also gives rights in connection with any children.
This means that should the relationship break down, (since 2012, there has been a 20% increase in civil partnership dissolutions), the same factors that influence how children’s welfare and finances are settled on divorce will influence a financial settlement for civil partners.
How Jones Myers can help
Jones Myers family lawyers are prominent supporters of alternative dispute resolution – striving to resolve family disputes constructively wherever possible, to try and avoid what can be costly, public and stressful litigation.
Our approach encourages clients to co-operate and reach agreement wherever possible about dividing their assets and securing the future of their children, whose interests should always come first.
If you are considering entering into a civil partnership, we can offer advice and discuss the benefits of a pre-civil partnership agreement in the same way that we provide advice on pre-nups and post-nups – so there is a clear guide as to how your assets would be divided should the civil partnership break down.
If your relationship has broken down and you want to consider a dissolution, our team of experts will advise, support and guide you through the process. Our wealth of expertise includes our highly esteemed divorce and separation team and children team, who can advise on critical issues.
Next steps
To make an appointment or enquiry with one of our divorce and separation team, by telephone or email, please contact Richard Peaker in Leeds, Nicki Mitchell in York, or Neil Dring in Harrogate. All contacts will, of course, be treated in the strictest confidence.
Alternatively, if you would prefer, please complete our enquiry form below.
