A civil partnership is a legal relationship that can be registered by two people who are not related to each other, and it is available to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Registering a civil partnership gives the relationship legal recognition and provides added legal rights and responsibilities. Once registered, a civil partnership can only be ended if one of the partners dies or by applying to court to bring the partnership legally to an end. Some key points about civil partnerships in the UK include:

• Formation and registration: A civil partnership is formed when both individuals sign the civil partnership document in the presence of a registrar and two witnesses. To sign the document, both partners must be 16 years of age or over, have lived in the same area in the UK for at least seven days, not be married or in another civil relationship, and not be blood relatives. If one or both partners are subject to immigration control, they must give notice to register their civil partnership at a special Register Office.

• Legal recognition: Registering a civil partnership gives the relationship legal recognition and provides added legal rights and responsibilities. Civil partners may choose to draw up an agreement, known as a pre-registration agreement, before registering their partnership, which can set out their rights and obligations towards each other and what should happen if the relationship breaks down.

• Differences from marriage: While civil partnerships and marriage share many similarities, there are some differences. For example, a civil partnership is entered into by signing a civil partnership document, while marriage is entered into by vows. Additionally, a civil partnership can only be ended if one of the partners dies or by applying to court to bring the partnership legally to an end, while marriage can also be ended by divorce.

Overall, a civil partnership is a legal relationship that provides legal recognition and added rights and responsibilities to couples who register it.