The Civil Partnership Act came into force in December 2005 enabling same sex couples to obtain legal recognition of their relationship. In turn this gives each person in the relationship a new legal status, that of a ‘Civil Partner’.
Civil Partners have equal treatment to married couples in a wide range of legal matters including:-
- Tax issues, employment, income and pension related benefits;
- Maintenance and parental responsibility matters in relation to children;
- Inheritance and intestacy legislation;
- Domestic Violence protection
- Immigration and nationality issues.
At Harris + Harris we are experts in this relatively new area of family law and can help in arranging formal agreements before you enter into a civil partnership. These agreements would set out what would happen in the event of separation.
If advice is needed because a relationship has come to an end, we can help negotiate the division of assets and the arrangements for the care of any children. In this case the options for negotiating a settlement are the same as for married couples and we can advise on mediation, collaborative law and court-based options, helping you decide on the best method for resolution.