The Benefits of Civil Partnerships Extended to All Couples

On 31 December 2019, new legislation made it legal for mixed-sex couples to enter into Civil Partnerships, an option that was previously only available to same-sex couples

Civil partnerships afford couples the same financial and legal protections as marriage, but offer an alternative for those who feel ‘traditional’ marriage isn’t quite right for them.

Among the couples celebrating were Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan, whose public battle for a civil partnership made it to the Supreme Court.

The couple said that for them, a civil partnership felt more equal than a traditional marriage. They successfully argued that denying a straight couple the right to a civil partnership was discrimination and therefore “incompatible with their human rights.”

Ahead of 31 December, hundreds of mixed-sex couples gave notice to enter civil partnerships but not without critics describing it as ‘marriage-lite’.

The Christian Institute’s Deputy Director Simon Calvert said: “The problem with heterosexual civil partnerships is that it’s very much a low-commitment alternative to marriage. You don’t have to pledge to stay together for the rest of your life, and it’s easier to get out of.”

That view is not correct; the law makes it no easier to get out of than for a married couple of either sex nor a same sex Civil Partner.  Heterosexual Civil Partners will be subject to the same stresses and strains which sadly lead to relationship breakdown and then often embittered court based processes over property, money and their children. The first Civil Partnership court cases for Dissolution can be begun from 1^st January 2021.

Robert Bellhouse, family law expert with Ware & Kay in York & Wetherby says “Just like couples marrying, civil partners should be thinking about agreements to regulate the potential conflict if the relationship sours, whether that’s before the ceremony or afterwards. Otherwise, the horrors of married couple’s court based divorce arguments will also be waiting from 1^st January 2021 onwards.”

Taking advice from experienced Solicitors like Robert is critical to ensure a binding and effective agreement and will mean financial information is exchanged to ensure fairness and transparency.

For further information on Civil Partnership or other relationship breakdown matters, please contact Robert Bellhouse on 01904 716000 or email robert.bellhouse@warekay.co.uk