- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Civil Partnership Act 2004, Section 1 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 24 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
(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
F1Words 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)
F2S. 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)
F3Word 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
F4S. 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
F5S. 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))
F6S. 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)
F7S. 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.
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: