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Government announces plans for extending civil
partnerships to opposite sex couples
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Equalities Office to also seek views on the conversion
of marriages to civil partnerships
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Aim for couples to be able to form civil partnerships
before end of the year
Last year, the Government announced landmark plans to introduce
opposite-sex civil partnerships.
Today (Wednesday 10 July) we
have published our plans for extending civil partnerships to
opposite sex couples by the end of this year. We are also
launching a consultation on how to ensure
couples in England and
Wales can access the
form of legal union that best suits them.
The consultation will seek public opinion on giving opposite-sex
couples an opportunity to convert their marriage into a civil
partnership, and then bringing all conversion rights to an end.
Providing a period for conversion will allow opposite-sex couples the opportunity to
access the legal relationship that was not previously available
to them.
Minister for Women and Equalities, , said:
“There are all sorts of reasons why people may choose not to
marry, but for a long time it has been the only option for many
wanting the legal security it provides.
“Last year the Prime Minister announced government would
support the extension of civil partnerships to opposite-sex
couples. This is a fantastic step, providing an alternative to
marriage for these couples.
“We must now consider those who didn’t haven’t had this as an
option previously, that’s why we’re consulting on whether
opposite-sex married couples can convert their marriages to civil
partnerships.”
The consultation will run for six weeks until 20 August and
will inform how government legislates.
This follows the announcement by the Prime Minister that from
December, civil partnerships that have been available to same-sex
couples since 2005, will be extended to opposite-sex couples.
Further information:
By law, the Secretary of State is
required to consult before making regulations relating
to conversion rights.