National Reputation, Local Presence

Civil Partnerships 

                  

 

   

  • At Blackfords LLP we pride ourselves on our relationship with the Gay Community, not least of which because members of our team are themselves part of our community and in 2006, we celebrated our first Civil Partnership within the firm. As such, we recognise the enormous importance of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 to individuals and couples who perhaps would have thought that such a reforming piece of legislation would never have reached the statute book in their lifetime, let alone within 20 years of the notorious Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988. Like many of you, we have participated in the struggle that has led to this fantastic opportunity to recognise relationships, many of which have endured for decades in the face of true adversity. So if you need legal advice regarding your relationship, at Blackfords LLP you are among friends who understand much more than the legal issues that arise in this situation.

  • Now that the opportunity to legalise your relationship exists, we recognise that the decision to enter into a Civil Partnership is not necessarily straight forward and both partners may require legal advice as to the impact of this step on their finances, property and inheritance rights as well as any children to whom one or both parties is a parent. We can give advice on all of these issues and draft “pre-nuptial agreements” to those who require this service.

  • As lawyers, we also recognise that sadly even the strongest of relationships can come to an end and if you have entered into a Civil Partnership legal steps are required to dissolve the legal relationship when you are ready to address this issue. Once again, our team are here to help you through the legal process and in accordance with established good practice in all aspects of family law, we will provide our extensive experience of amicable dispute resolution to ensure that both partners can move forward with a fair and binding division of assets.

  • In addition to providing the opportunity to create legal relationships with your partner, the Civil Partnership Act and related legislation under the Adoption and Children Act 2002, now means that relationships with children in your family to whom you are not blood related can now be legally recognised without the need for Court proceedings if you so wish. We can help you to formalise the relationships in your family and explain the differences between all the legal options open to you and your partner where children are concerned. The Adoption and Children Act also creates a whole new opportunity for gay couples to adopt children together (as opposed to as individuals) and with our expertise in the field of adoption law we can advise or represent prospective adoptive parents through each stage of the process.

  • Please contact Pauline Troy, Senior Partner to see how we might assist you:

Please see our specialist website: www.civilpartnerslaw.com for more information about this area of law and how we can help you.