Civil Partnership Solicitors

Civil partnerships are a legal relationship and are governed by laws which are similar to those that cover marriage.

They are available to both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. Our specialist family lawyers can advise you on all aspects of civil partnerships, whether you are thinking of entering a civil partnership or your relationship has broken down.

If you are living together and want advice on your legal rights if you do not enter a civil partnership or marriage, read our cohabitation legal advice.

Entering a civil partnership

Before entering a civil partnership, you may want to consider drawing up a ‘pre-registration agreement’. This works in the same way as a prenuptial agreement to set out your rights and responsibilities towards each other if the relationship ends. This can include how you will divide any assets, what will happen to the family home and arrangements for children.

Our solicitors can ensure you have considered all your possessions, finances and circumstances, and that both parties are protected. These agreements can help couples to avoid additional conflict and stress at the end of a relationship. They can also be particularly useful if you want to safeguard assets which have been inherited, or that you want to pass on to children from a previous relationship.

Civil partnership dissolution

Once you have registered a civil partnership, it can only be ended if one partner dies or you apply to the courts to legally end it. This is similar to the way married couples must apply for a divorce. If your relationship is breaking down, our solicitors will support you professionally and practically through what can be a stressful stage of your life.

We can advise on how to divide assets and make arrangements for any children that you share. Where possible, we help our clients to resolve these issues by agreement, without going to court. Members of our team are accredited in alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation and collaborative law.

How to contact our civil partnership solicitors

Our civil partnership solicitors are based in Maidstone and Canterbury and are ready to help you with any advice you need.

You can start your family law enquiry online by filling out our online questionnaire and we will get back to you with next steps, or book an initial fixed-fee virtual appointment to access legal advice at a time to suit you. Alternatively, fill out our enquiry form to the right of this page or contact us using the details below.