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A civil partnership  already gives same-sex couples legal equality with heterosexual married couples on child maintenance, life assurance, immigration rights, inheritance, state and private pensions , although there are slight differences with pensions.

The main differences between a civil partnership and gay marriage are:

  • With one you become a married couple and the other you are civil partners.
  • They are defined under separate legal regimes – Civil Partnership Act 2004 versus Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013  and older marriage legislation.
  • Only gay couples can enter into a civil partnership.
  • A civil partnership can be converted into a marriage.
  • A marriage is formed by saying some specific words and in a civil partnership no words are required; the couple only need to sign the civil partnership document.
  • A same-sex marriage can be part of a religious ceremony where this is allowed by a particular religion.
  • A marriage can be dissolved if either couple is suffering from an STD (sexually transmitted disease) at the time of  the ceremony.
  • Finally, adultery is grounds for a divorce in a marriage, but that is not something that can be cited as grounds for ending a civil partnership.

That’s it!

Note: This article applies to England and Wales.

 

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