Civil Partnership Act 2004

Part 1 U.K. Introduction

1 Civil partnership U.K.

(1) A civil partnership is a relationship between two people F1 ... (“civil partners”)—

(a) which is formed when they register as civil partners of each other—

(i) in England or Wales (under Part 2),

(ii) in Scotland (under Part 3),

(iii) in Northern Ireland (under Part 4), or

(iv) outside the United Kingdom under an Order in Council made under Chapter 1 of Part 5 (registration at British consulates etc. or by armed forces personnel), or

(b) which they are treated under Chapter 2 of Part 5 as having formed (at the time determined under that Chapter) by virtue of having registered an overseas relationship [F2 , or

(c) which results from the conversion, under Part 3, 4 or 5 of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020, of their marriage.]

(2) Subsection (1) is subject to the provisions of this Act under or by virtue of which a civil partnership is void.

(3) [F3 (a)] A civil partnership ends only on death, dissolution or annulment [F4 , or

(b) in the case of a civil partnership formed as mentioned in subsection (1)(a)(i) or (iv), on the conversion of the civil partnership into a marriage under section 9 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013] [F5 , or

(c) on its coming to an end in accordance with section 11(2)(a) of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 5) (ending of civil partnership formed as mentioned in subsection (1)(a)(ii) or (iv) on its being changed to a marriage under section 10 of that Act, and ending of certain civil partnerships where the civil partners marry in accordance with the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977)] [F6 , or

(d) in the case of a civil partnership formed as mentioned in subsection (1)(a)(iii) or (iv), on the conversion of the civil partnership into a marriage—

(i) under Part 3 of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020, or

(ii) under Part 3 or 4 of the Marriage of Same Sex Couples (Conversion of Civil Partnership) Regulations 2014.]

[F7 (3A) Subsection (3) is subject to section 11(2)(a) of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 (ending of certain civil partnerships on marriage under Scots law).]

(4) The references in subsection (3) to dissolution and annulment are to dissolution and annulment having effect under or recognised in accordance with this Act.

(5) References in this Act to an overseas relationship are to be read in accordance with Chapter 2 of Part 5.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 1(1) omitted (E.W.) (2.12.2019) by virtue of The Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1458), regs. 1(2), 3; (N.I.) (13.1.2020) by virtue of The Marriage (Same-sex Couples) and Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1514), regs. 1(2), 16(2) (with regs. 6-9); and (S.) (1.2.2021 for specified purposes, 1.6.2021 in so far as not already in force) by Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2020 (asp 15), ss. 1(2), 16; S.S.I. 2020/414, reg. 2(1)(a)(2); S.S.I. 2021/23, reg. 2, sch. (with reg. 3)

F2 S. 1(1)(c) and word inserted (7.12.2020) by The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1143), regs. 1(2), 44(2)

F3 Word in s. 1(3) inserted (10.12.2014) by Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30), s. 21(3), Sch. 7 para. 34(a); S.I. 2014/3169, art. 2

F4 S. 1(3)(b) and word inserted (10.12.2014) by Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30), s. 21(3), Sch. 7 para. 34(b); S.I. 2014/3169, art. 2

F5 S. 1(3)(c) and word inserted (E.W.N.I.) (13.1.2020) by The Marriage (Same-sex Couples) and Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1514), regs. 1(2), 10(3)(c) (with regs. 6-9, 10(4))

F6 S. 1(3)(d) and word inserted (7.12.2020) by The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1143), regs. 1(2), 44(3)

F7 S. 1(3A) inserted (S.) (16.12.2014) by Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 5), ss. 11(9), 36; S.S.I. 2014/287, art. 3, sch.