{"id":1634,"date":"2018-07-05T16:10:43","date_gmt":"2018-07-05T16:10:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/?p=1634"},"modified":"2020-05-12T14:06:12","modified_gmt":"2020-05-12T14:06:12","slug":"civil-partnerships-for-heterosexual-couples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/2018\/07\/05\/civil-partnerships-for-heterosexual-couples\/","title":{"rendered":"Civil Partnerships for Heterosexual Couples : FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Civil-Partnerships-for-Heterosexual-Couples-WP.jpg\"><img data-attachment-id=\"1663\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/2018\/07\/05\/civil-partnerships-for-heterosexual-couples\/civil-partnerships-for-heterosexual-couples-wp\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Civil-Partnerships-for-Heterosexual-Couples-WP.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"906,680\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Civil Partnerships for Heterosexual Couples WP\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Civil Partnerships for Heterosexual Couples WP&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Civil-Partnerships-for-Heterosexual-Couples-WP-300x225.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Civil-Partnerships-for-Heterosexual-Couples-WP.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1663\" src=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Civil-Partnerships-for-Heterosexual-Couples-WP.jpg\" alt=\"Civil Partnerships for Heterosexual Couples WP\" width=\"906\" height=\"680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Civil-Partnerships-for-Heterosexual-Couples-WP.jpg 906w, https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Civil-Partnerships-for-Heterosexual-Couples-WP-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Civil-Partnerships-for-Heterosexual-Couples-WP-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 906px) 100vw, 906px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Civil-Partnerships-for-Heterosexual-Couples-WP.jpg\"><br \/>\n<\/a>Is The Recent Court Case About Civil Partnerships For Heterosexual Couples Important?<\/h4>\n<p>Yes, it&#8217;s important for you if you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Live together and are worried about your legal rights<\/li>\n<li>Want to make a commitment, but marriage feels like an outdated institution<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Do Couples Who Live Together Have Rights?<\/h4>\n<p>Sadly there&#8217;s no such thing as Common Law Marriage. Consequently the rights of cohabitees are limited.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, pensions and property and inheritance are major\u00a0problems. See my earlier post\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/2017\/03\/22\/6-things-you-need-to-know-about-common-law-marriage\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>&#8220;6 Things You Need To Know About &#8216;Common Law&#8217; Marriage&#8221;<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<h4>Why\u00a0Was\u00a0A Court Case About Civil Partnerships for Heterosexual Couples Necessary?<\/h4>\n<p>Same sex couples can enter into Civil Partnerships but opposite sex couples can&#8217;t. This is thanks to\u00a0the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2004\/33\/contents\" target=\"_blank\">Civil Partnership Act 2004<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>A cohabiting couple,\u00a0<em><a href=\"http:\/\/equalcivilpartnerships.org.uk\/legal-challenge\/\" target=\"_blank\">Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan<\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>challenged the law because their local register office refused them a civil partnership. Hence they started a long and expensive Court battle which they won on the 27 June. Here is the Supreme Court\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.uk\/cases\/uksc-2017-0060.html\" target=\"_blank\">Judgment<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n<h4>Why Did They Fight For Civil Partnerships for Heterosexual Couples?<\/h4>\n<p>Rebecca and Charles\u00a0have lived together for many years and have two children. Consequently they want to make a commitment in the eyes of the law &#8211; but they\u00a0don&#8217;t\u00a0want to marry. Why don&#8217;t they want to marry? Because they believe a civil partnership better reflects the equality of their relationship.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore they consider marriage has historically:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Promoted a world view\u00a0where heterosexuality is the preferred sexual orientation<\/li>\n<li>Supported\u00a0a system of society controlled by\u00a0a single gender, namely male.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>What Did The Supreme Court Have To Say?<\/h4>\n<p>The Supreme Court held the Civil Partnership Act 2004 was incompatible with\u00a0human rights law.<\/p>\n<pre>The relevant Articles under the\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/1998\/42\/schedule\/1\" target=\"_blank\">Human Rights Act 1988<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>are:\r\n\r\nArticle 8 - Right to respect for family and private life\r\n\r\nArticle 14 - Prohibition from discrimination<\/pre>\n<h4>Time To Book Your\u00a0Civil Partnership?<\/h4>\n<p>Not quite yet because the Government needs to\u00a0change the law. But Rebecca and Charles have delivered a letter to Equalities Minister, Penny Mordaunt MP &#8211; so watch this space.<\/p>\n<h4>What\u00a0Can You\u00a0Do In The Meantime?<\/h4>\n<p>Sign this <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.change.org\/p\/minister-for-women-and-equalities-penny-mordaunt-mp-open-civil-partnerships-to-all\" target=\"_blank\">Petition<\/a><\/em> to Penny Mordaunt MP.<\/p>\n<p>Email\u00a0your MP and ask them to support Tim Loughton\u2019s private members\u2019 bill, entitled Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Bill 2017-19. Find your MP&#8217;s email address by inputting your postcode on the UK\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.parliament.uk\/mps-lords-and-offices\/mps\/\" target=\"_blank\">Parliament<\/a><\/em>\u00a0website<\/p>\n<p>Depending on the urgency of your circumstances, you\u00a0may need\u00a0to ask a lawyer for advice on:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A\u00a0Cohabitation Agreement, see my earlier post <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/2017\/12\/13\/common-law-property-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\">&#8220;6 Things You Must Include In A Cohabitation Agreement&#8221;<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<li>The ownership of property<\/li>\n<li>Entitlement to your partner&#8217;s pension<\/li>\n<li>Updating your Will.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Civil Partnerships for Heterosexual Couples<\/h4>\n<p>Contact Joanne Houston on 01962 217640 for free advice on Civil Partnerships for Heterosexual Couples. In this 20 minute session we will review your situation and how you can achieve your objectives.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/about-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">JUST FAMILY LAW<\/a>\u00a0are specialist divorce and family law solicitors offering\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/2017\/06\/02\/pay-as-you-go-divorce-family-law-costs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">personalised legal solutions<\/a>.\u00a0We offer\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/2017\/11\/29\/collaborative-law-uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">collaborative law<\/a>\u00a0which is especially relevant in providing\u00a0solutions tailored to your family\u2019s needs. This includes same sex couples and their families. Visit our website\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">just-family-law.com<\/a>\u00a0The topics covered in this blog post are complex and are provided for general guidance only. Therefore if any of the circumstances mentioned in this blog have application to you, seek expert legal advice.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Image: Trash The Dress by Mathias Poujol-Rost on <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Trash_the_dress_-_Wetlook_in_wedding_clothes_-_Heterosexual_couple_in_sea.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Wikimedia<\/em>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is The Recent Court Case About Civil Partnerships For Heterosexual Couples Important? Yes, it&#8217;s important for you if you: Live together and are worried about your legal rights Want to make a commitment, but marriage feels like an outdated institution Do Couples Who Live Together Have Rights? Sadly there&#8217;s no such thing as Common Law [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1663,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[586],"tags":[350,7,156,10,351,9,349],"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1634"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1634"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1634\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2112,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1634\/revisions\/2112"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}