Information and Resources on Civil Partnerships
The Civil Partnership Act 2004 received Royal Assent on 18 November 2004 and came into force on 5 December this year (2005). The first civil partnerships to be formed in time for Christmas on 21 December, after the 15 day waiting period has passed (a day earlier in Northern Ireland).
The Civil Partnership Act allows same-sex couples to make a formal, legal commitment to each other by forming a civil partnership. At present, same-sex couples have no way of gaining formal legal recognition for their relationship and as a result suffer a range of problems in their everyday lives.
Important rights and responsibilities will flow from entering a civil partnership, helping same-sex couples to organise their lives together.
Provisions in the Act include:
- employment and pension benefits;
- recognition under intestacy rules;
- access to fatal accidents compensation;
- recognition for immigration and nationality purposes.
- a duty to provide reasonable maintenance for your civil partner and any children of the family;
- civil partners to be assessed in the same way as spouses for child support;
- equitable treatment for the purposes of life assurance;
Berkshire Unitary Authorities
- Bracknell, Crowthorne, Sandhurst, Warfield, Winkfield, - information is available on the Bracknell Forest Borough Council website which has a list of approved venues. In Bracknell itself, it will be possible to form style="font-size: smaller;" a civil partnership either at Easthampstead House or at the Council's ceremonial venue, the Syrett Suite, at Easthampstead Park Conference Centre.
- Newbury, Thatcham, Tadley, Reading (Tilehurst), Burghfield Common, Goring, Pangbourne, Hungerford, Chieveley, Kintbury, East Ilsley, Theale, Upper Basildon - information on the West Berkshire website.
- Reading - the Borough Council seemed a little slow off the mark but there is now information on Reading Borough Council's website.
- Slough - information on the Slough Borough Council Website.
- Windsor, Eton and Maidenhead - information is available on the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead website. Registrations in the Register Office may take place each weekday between 10.00 and 4.00 and on Saturday mornings (other times by arrangement). Ceremonies in licensed venues may take place on any day (including Sundays) between 8.00am and 6.00pm. The last appointment time is 5.00 pm. There is a page for approved venues
- Wokingham, Earley, Winnersh - the Wokingham District Council website has a page with helpful information.
Further Resources
- Government leaflets and guidance at: http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/civilpartnership/guidance.htm
- Women and Equality Unit News
- Tax and Civil Partners - information from the HM Revenue and Customs (previously the Inland Revenue)
- Age Concern's information sheets on Older same-sex couples (December 2005); Benefits and Civil Partnership and older same-sex couples (December 2005) and Planning for later life as a lesbian, gay man or bisexual person (December 2005) in electronic format.
- Civil partnership and Council Tax information from the Women and Equality Unit
- model civil partnership ceremony put together by the Association of Registration and Celebratory Services (ARCS)
- General Register Office
- Civil Partnership Act 2004 - the legislation itself
- Explanatory Notes to Civil Partnership Act 2004
- Gay marriage around the globe from the BBC website
- income related benefits information from the government's Women and Equality Unit
- Information from the Women and Equality Unit specifically about the Civil Partnership and Other People
- Paper Moon - handcrafted and printed invitations for same sex couples