Civil union

A civil union is one of several terms for a civil status similar to marriage, typically created for the purposes of allowing same-sex couples access to the benefits enjoyed by married opposite-sex couples (see also same-sex marriage); it can also be used by opposite-sex couples who do not prefer to enter into the legal institution of marriage but who would rather be in a union more similar to a common-law marriage.

United Kingdom

In 2003, the UK government announced plans to introduce 'civil partnerships' which would allow same-sex couples the same rights as a marriage. The Civil Partnership Bill was introduced into the House of Lords on March 30, 2004. After considering amendments made by the House of Commons, it was passed by the House of Lords, its final legislative hurdle, on November 17, 2004, and received Royal Assent on November 18. The Act comes into force on 5 December 2005, so same-sex, but not opposite-sex, couples will be able to form the first civil partnerships on 21 December 2005. http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/11/111704LordsPartner.htm Separate provisions were included in the first Finance Act 2005 to allow regulations to be made to amend tax laws to give the same tax advantages and disadvantages to couples in civil partnerhsips as apply to married couples.

Related Topics:
2003 - UK - Civil Partnership Bill - House of Lords - March 30 - 2004 - House of Commons - November 17 - Royal Assent - November 18 - 5 December - 2005 - 21 December

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In order to counter claims that this is instituting same-sex marriage, government spokespersons have emphasised that civil partnership is quite separate from marriage. In practice the differences are as follows:

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• A civil partnership becomes legal on the signing of a register, rather than on the speaking of certain words as with marriage.
• It will not be possible to dissolve a civil partnership on the grounds of non-consummation or adultery, although it should be noted that both non-consumation and adultery can be grounds for dissolution of the partnership as they fall under the provision for unreasonable behavior.
• The legal definition of a traditional marriage is "life long" whereas the wording of civil partnerships is "long term" and "intended to be permanent".

Apart from the differences outlined above and the use of the word "marriage", civil partnerships and marriages give exactly the same legal rights and operate under the same constrictions and it is not legal to be in both a civil partnership and a marriage at the same time. This fact has been used by right wing and Christian groups http://www.christian.org.uk//civilpartnerships/resources.html as evidence that this is merely a quiet way of instituting gay marriage and have lobbied for a lesser form of legal recognition to preserve the uniqueness of marriage under the law.

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