Civil Partnership Act

This article is a summary of the main legal changes resulting from the UK's Civil Partnership Act 2004 (CPA), which comes into force in December 2005. The CPA allows a same-sex couple to gain legal recognition for their relationship by creating a civil partnership. From 5 December 2005, eligible couples can make a formal declaration of their intention to form a civil partnership, and the first registration ceremonies can take place on 21 December 2005. This change means that civil partners in the UK will for the first time be able to enjoy virtually the same legal rights as married coup...