The Civil Partnerships Act came in to force on the 5 December and the first Civil Partnerships will be registered shortly.

We recommend that couples planning to register their partnership should take legal advice before doing so.

Couples may wish to consider whether before entering in to Civil Partnership they want to agree how assets and liabilities might be divided on Separation. Pre-nuptial Agreements and Contemplation of marriage have been around for a long time. Like Pre-nuptial Agreements, pre Civil Partnership Agreements will not be legally binding, but can be taken in to account by the Court if the relationship ends.

Couples should also be aware that the registration of their Civil Partnership effectively revokes an existing Will. It is essential that both partners take specialist advice on the making of a Will.