Marriage and civil partnerships

A civil partnership is a legally recognized union that grants same-sex and opposite-sex couples similar rights and responsibilities as married couples. This legal recognition provides couples with rights and responsibilities, including those related to property, inheritance, and pensions.

Like a marriage, a civil partnership can only be ended if one of you dies, or by applying to court to bring the partnership to an end legally. If you want to marry or form a civil partnership with someone else in this, or any other country, you will need to have your existing civil partnership dissolved. You must apply for a dissolution through the courts. This is just as you would do with a marriage to obtain a divorce.

This is regardless of whether the country you are in recognises civil partnerships.

Civil marriages and civil partnerships provide couples with broadly similar rights. Full details can be found at GOV.UK.

A marriage ceremony is a verbal contract given in a ceremony. A marriage consists of a husband and a wife.

A civil partnership is a signed contract, and a ceremony is optional. A civil partnership consists of civil partners.

Marriage

An opposite sex marriage formed in England and Wales will be recognised internationally.

Same sex marriages formed in England and Wales are recognised in many countries. If you are going abroad, you should seek advice about what rights you might have under the laws of the other country.

Civil partnership

Same sex and opposite sex civil partnerships formed in England and Wales are recognised in many countries. If you are going abroad, you should seek advice about what rights you might have under the laws of the other country.

You cannot convert an opposite-sex civil partnership to a marriage in England and Wales. You can convert your same-sex civil partnership into a marriage. Find out more at GOV.UK.