Civil Partnership's in Gay Belfast

Grainne Close and Shannon Sickels in Belfast City Hall

1. What is a civil partnership?
Civil partnership is a new legal relationship for lesbian and gay couples, aged 17 and over (16 in rest of UK). It will give lesbian and gay couples the same legal benefits as heterosexual married couples, just like a registry office wedding.

2. When did the new law come into effect?
The Civil Partnership Act came into effect on December 2005. Registrars have to be given 15 days' notification, so the first civil partnership ceremonies can now take place.

3. Can we register our partnership anywhere in the Northern Ireland?
Couples will be able to form their civil partnership in licensed premises anywhere in the UK. However, you will still have to notify your local authority of your intention to register your partnership - they will need to know the details of when and where you are going to register. Visit www.groni.gov.uk for further details.

4. What rights do we get?
Same sex couples who register their partnership will gain access to a number of legal rights. These include rights to survivor pensions, recognition for immigration purposes, equal treatment for tax purposes, including inheritance tax, protection from domestic violence.

5. What about responsibilities for children?
If you register your partnership you will be able to gain responsibility for each other's children, and will have a duty to provide reasonable maintenance for your partner and any children of the family.

6. What about pensions?
As for widowers, civil partners will be able to access survivor pensions in public service schemes and contracted-out pension schemes from 1988.

7. What about taxes?
Civil partners will be treated in the same way as spouses for tax purposes. For further information visit: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk.

8. What about benefits?
If you form a civil partnership, you will be treated jointly for income-related benefits. For further information visit: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk.

9. What will happen if my partner dies?
If one of you dies after you have registered your partnership, the surviving partner will automatically inherit their partner's estate if there is no will. They will have the right to register the death of their partner and will be eligible for bereavement benefits. They will also have the right to claim a survivor pension will have tenancy succession rights and will be able to claim compensation for fatal accidents or criminal injuries. They will also be recognised under inheritance tax rules.

11. How much will it cost to register our partnership?
There will be statutory fees to pay the registrar. For further details contact your local council or registry office, or the General Register Office: www.groni.gov.uk.

12. How do we register our partnership?
You will need to go to the registration service to give formal notice in person of your intention to register your partnership. You will be able to register 15 days after giving this notice, during which time the registration service will check your eligibility. Following this, you will form your civil partnership by signing a document in the presence of a registration officer and two witnesses.

13. Where can we register our partnership?
You can register your partnership in any premises licensed to carry out registrations, not just a registry office. For a list of licensed venues, contact your local authority, or the General Register Office: www.gro.gov.uk.

14. What will we be called after we register our partnership?
Legally you will be 'civil partners'. There is no provision in the act to enable you to automatically take your partner's surname, so if you wish to do this, you will need to make arrangements to change by deed poll.

BELFAST CITY COUNCIL, City Hall, Belfast, BT1 5GS.
Tel: 028 9032 0202 Fax: 028 9027 0520
Hours of Business (Monday-Friday) 09:30-16:30 (Friday 16:00)
email: registrar@belfastcity.gov.uk
www.belfastcity.gov.uk

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