The rules of civil partnerships, or same sex marriages, are similar to those that govern traditional marriages. It may be worth considering a ‘pre-registration agreement’, which is similar to a pre-nuptial agreement before you enter a civil partnership. This may help you protect assets you already own or will acquire over time. If your relationship breaks down, where married couples need to apply for a divorce, civil partners need to apply for a dissolution. The process is very similar to the divorce process.
Same Sex Dissolution
To apply for a dissolution the couple must have been in a civil partnership for at least a year. The grounds for a dissolution is that the relationship has irretrievably broken down based on one of four reasons,
You can still claim desertion if you have lived together for up to a total of 6 months within this period.
Unreasonable behaviour
This could include:
- Physical or mental cruelty
- Verbal or physical abuse
- Being irresponsible with money
- Being sexually unfaithful
Desertion
Your partner has left you:
- Without your agreement
- Without a good reason
- To end your relationship
- For more than 2 years in the past 2.5 years
You can still claim desertion if you have lived together for up to a total of 6 months within this period.
Request A Free Phone Consultation
You have lived apart for more than 2 years
You can get a dissolution if you have lived apart for more than 2 years, and both agree to end the civil partnership.
Your civil partner must agree in writing to end the civil partnership.
You have lived apart for more than 5 years
Living apart for more than 5 years is usually enough to end a civil partnership, even if your civil partner disagrees.
At Prentice Family Law we offer an initial free telephone consultation to discuss your case and the best way forward for you, as each case is unique.
If you would like to arrange a call please call 01483 237 989 or email paul@prenticefamilylaw.co.uk at any time.