Entering into a civil partnership

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into force on 5 December 2005 and enables same-sex couples to obtain legal recognition of their relationship. Couples who form a civil partnership have a new legal status, that of 'civil partner'.

You are entitled to enter into a civil partnership if you are over 18 years old and are single, widowed or divorced. You may enter a civil partnership if you are aged 16 or 17 if you have parental consent.

Civil partners have equal treatment to married couples in a wide range of legal matters, including:

• Tax, including Inheritance Tax
• Employment benefits
• Most state and occupational pension benefits
• Income-related benefits, tax credits and child support
• Duty to provide reasonable maintenance for your civil partner and any children of the family
• Ability to apply for parental responsibility for your civil partner's child
• Inheritance of a tenancy agreement
• Recognition under intestacy rules
• Access to fatal accidents compensation
• Protection from domestic violence
• Recognition for immigration and nationality purposes

In order to form a civil partnership, you must first ‘give notice’. This involves stating your intention to register a civil partnership to your registration authority or, in Northern Ireland, to the Registrar of the District. Once given, your notices are publicised by the registration authority or the Registrar for a period of 15 days. A civil partnership can be formed in England and Wales and Northern Ireland at a registrar’s office or approved premises. For more information on how to register a civil partnership see: Registering your civil partnership

A pre-civil partnership agreement states what should happen to assets should a civil partnership come to an end. Although such agreements are not fully enforceable in UK law, they are highly persuasive and will usually be taken into account by the court before they make any decision as to who gets what when any joint assets are divided.

Pre-civil partnership agreements are becoming more and more popular because the courts have shown an increasing tendency to be persuaded by their terms. For more information on pre-civil partnership agreements, see: Pre-civil partnership agreements

You may change your name at any time, provided you do not intend to deceive or defraud another person by doing so. You may change your forename or surname, add names or rearrange your existing names. In most cases, you may change your name informally by simply using your new name.

Once you enter into a civil partnership, you may wish to formally change your name for all purposes and may do so either by statutory declaration or deed poll.

a) Deed poll

A deed poll is the traditional way a person indicates that he or she has changed his or her name. Some professional bodies require members to produce a deed poll as proof of name change.

b) Statutory declaration

For most purposes, a statutory declaration is generally accepted as evidence of your change of name. A statutory declaration is a statement recording your intention to abandon your old name and adopt a new one. Changing a name by means of a statutory declaration can be cheaper and is often chosen for this reason.

For more information on changing your name see: Changing your name