‘Heterosexual couples might be able to access civil partnerships, as the government reviews the law that currently only applies to homosexual couples.’
BBC News, 2nd February 2018
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘As England debates the future status, role and purpose of civil partnership, its cross-border status should be brought into account. Whilst marriage is almost universally recognised around the world and civil partnership is recognised by those countries with their own civil partnership laws, the legal status of an English civil partnership is not recognised in a number of countries. The civil partners have no different status in law to cohabitants in those countries. This places them in a real difficulty. A little-known and surprising piece of law may come to their aid. But should civil partnerships be continued now there is same-sex marriage including in view of the position abroad?’
Family Law, 26th January 2018
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
‘The legal institution whereby couples express their mutual commitment, which is recognised, protected and regulated by the state – marriage – touches the most intimate parts of people’s lives. Its recent transformation raised profound questions of personal morality, human dignity, and religious doctrine. As the tide of public opinion turned, Parliament repealed section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 (which had prohibited the “promot[ion] of homosexuality” and the “teaching in any maintained school the acceptability of homosexuality”) in 2003, passed the Civil Partnerships Act the following year, and enacted the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act in 2013. The result is that same-sex couples can currently choose between entering a civil partnership or marriage, whereas different-sex couples cannot.’
UK Constitutional Law Association, 9th January 2018
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
‘I was recently instructed by Sterling & Law LLP in an EEA appeal against the refusal of permanent residence. The Appellant was a non-EEA national in a civil partnership with her wife, an EEA national. The Appellant sought to establish that she was entitled to permanent residence having lived in the UK in accordance with the EEA Regulations for five years.’
Drystone Chambers, 1st December 2017
Source: drystone.com
‘Equal civil partnerships divide opinions. For their proponents, access to such a status, and the legal benefits that follow, allows couples critical of marriage – whether same or different-sex – the ability to express their relationship through (in their view) a more appropriate, modern and egalitarian legal institution. Opponents question such a need in light of the availability of civil marriage, which has over centuries evolved and may not now necessarily be perceived as embodying the patriarchal or heteronormative values that its critics challenge. Calls for allowing different-sex as well as same-sex couples to enter civil partnerships in England and Wales have grown louder recently following the failed Equal Love case (Ferguson v UK), the production of several Private Members Bills and the on-going litigation in Steinfeld and Keidan v Secretary of State for Education, due to be heard by the Supreme Court in Spring 2018. The desire, however, for different-sex civil partnerships is not limited to this jurisdiction, and was recently explored for the first time by the Strasbourg court in Ratzenböck and Seydl v Austria. After exploring the background to this legal challenge, this post will critically analyse the reasoning of the Strasbourg Court and assess its implications for the challenge in Steinfeld.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 21st November 2017
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘S 1(1) Civil Partnership Act 2004 stipulates that only a same-sex couple may conclude a civil partnership: “A civil partnership is a relationship between two people of the same sex…”. Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan have sought judicial review of that provision and have been unsuccessful both at first instance and in the Court of Appeal.’
Law & Religion UK, 22nd August 2017
Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com
‘A heterosexual couple who want to enter a civil partnership instead of getting married have been granted the right to take their case to the Supreme Court.’
BBC News, 22nd August 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Frances Bailey, Principal Associate and Naomi Shelton, Associate, both of Mills & Reeve LLP, analyse the news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during April 2017.’
Family Law Week, 12th may 2017
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
‘David Bedingfield, barrister, 4 Paper Buildings, traces the development of the law relating to marriage and civil partnership up to and including the Court of Appeal’s recent judgment in Steinfeld & Keidan.’
Family Law Week, 16th March 2017
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
‘Frances Bailey, Principal Associate and Naomi Shelton, Associate with Mills & Reeve LLP analyse the news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during February 2017.’
Family Law Week, 16th March 2017
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
‘Technology reporter Alex Hern and his female partner do not want to get married, because of the patriarchal roots of the institution. They would be prepared to get a civil partnership, but this ceremony is only open to same-sex couples. Here he explains why the rights offered by this alternative should be extended to couples like his.’
The Guardian, 1st March 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘People in the UK have been wondering where in Europe opposite-sex couples can choose civil partnership over marriage after a British heterosexual couple lost their legal fight to choose civil union.’
BBC News, 22nd February 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘S 1(1) Civil Partnership Act 2004 stipulates that only a same-sex couple may conclude a civil partnership: “A civil partnership is a relationship between two people of the same sex…”. In June 2014 the Coalition Government published the results of its second consultation on the future of civil partnership: Civil Partnership Review (England and Wales) – Report on Conclusions. After considering the responses to that consultation, the Government decided that it would not be making any changes at present.’
Law & Religion UK, 21st February 2017
Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com
‘A heterosexual couple who labelled traditional marriage as a “sexist” and “patriarchal” institution, have lost their appeal to enter into a civil partnership.’
The Guardian, 21st February 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘A legal challenge aimed at overturning the ban on heterosexual couples entering into civil partnerships has gained ground despite defeat at the court of appeal, according to equal rights campaigners.’
The Guardian, 21st February 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘The appeal court is to decide whether opposite-sex couples can enter civil partnerships – without running away to the Isle of Man.’
The Guardian, 21st February 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘A couple who have been living together for the past six years will this week demand the right to a civil partnership, arguing that they face discrimination under the present law, which gives gay couples the option of marriage or a civil partnership but denies the latter to heterosexual couples.’
The Guardian, 30th October 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘The first UK-based opposite-sex couple to enter into a civil partnership in the British Isles have called on the government to make the process available to all couples, regardless of sexuality.’
The Guardian, 21st October 2016
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Stuart Clark, Associate Solicitor at The International Family Law Group LLP, reviews the newly published guide for LiPs dealing with their financial matters after divorce or civil partnership dissolution.’
Family Law Week, 14th April 2016
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
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