Civil Partnership Act 2004

Civil Partnership Act 2004[1]
Long titleAn Act to make provision for and in connection with civil partnership.
Citation2004 c. 33[2]
Territorial extent United Kingdom
Dates
Royal assent18 November 2004[2]
Commencement5 December 2005
Other legislation
Amended byCivil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33)[a] is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, introduced by the Labour government, which grants civil partnerships in the United Kingdom the rights and responsibilities very similar to those in civil marriage. Initially the Act permitted only same-sex couples to form civil partnerships. This was altered to include opposite-sex couples in 2019. Civil partners are entitled to the same property rights as married couples, the same exemption as married couples regarding social security and pension benefits, and also the ability to exercise parental responsibility for a partner's children,[4] as well as responsibility for reasonable maintenance of one's partner and their children, tenancy rights, full life insurance recognition, next-of-kin rights in hospitals, and others.[5] There is a formal process for dissolving civil partnerships, akin to divorce.

  1. ^ The citation of this Act by this short title is authorised by section 264 of this Act.
  2. ^ a b "Civil Partnership Act 2004". 18 November 2004. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  3. ^ "Dè tha an riaghaltas a' dèanamh mu dheidhinn neo-ionannachd ghnè?". BBC News (in Scottish Gaelic).
  4. ^ "Gay couples to get joint rights". BBC News. 31 March 2004. Retrieved 14 May 2006.
  5. ^ Rights and Responsibilities on the Directgov website Archived 18 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine


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