Family Law – Civil Partnerships
- The Civil Partnership Act 2004 provided same-sex couples who have entered into a formal civil partnership with most of the rights and responsibilities of a civil marriage. Civil partners are now entitled to the same property rights, exemption on inheritance tax, social security and pension benefits, as married couples. There is a formal process for dissolving civil partnerships which is similar to the divorce process.
- The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 will allow those who are already in a civil partnership to marry. They will not require to dissolve their civil partnership. This Act comes into force in late 2014.
- The dissolution of a civil partnership in the event of the irretrievable breakdown of the relationship is on the same basis as marriage on divorce.
For more information or advice please call 01309 672216 or email janeferguson@r-r-urquhart.com