Changes to Civil Partnerships

Opposite-sex couples will soon be able to form Civil Partnerships in England and Wales. The Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) Regulations 2019 were made on 5 November 2019 and come into force on 2 December 2019. They follow the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019, which provided that the landmark legislation known as the Civil Partnership Act 2004 would be amended by regulation before 31 December 2019, to extend Civil Partnerships to opposite-sex couples in England and Wales.

The new Regulations will also amend the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 to maintain the current position on conversion rights, which is that only same-sex couples are able to convert their Civil Partnerships to marriage. This is pending the outcome of a public consultation on the future of conversion rights which closed in August this year.

If you would like to speak to someone regarding the above please call Alex Bowers on 01273 722532 or email info@coolebevisllp.com