Family Law Birmingham Latest News

The 21st December marked the 7th anniversary of the first day that same-sex couples were able to enter into a civil partnership in England and Wales.

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 enabled same-sex couples for the first time in UK history to have their relationship recognised in law. It also gives them equivalent rights and responsibilities as to marriage.

At the end of last year, the Government published the results of its equal marriage consultation, and announced that it would introduce legislation next year which allow same-sex marriage.

It will also introduce a process that will allow civil partnerships (now numbering some 50,000) to be converted into a civil marriage; and change the law so that individuals can legally change their gender while remaining married – putting an end to the distressing process of having to end a marriage or civil partnership before a full gender recognition certificate can be issued.

The Court of Appeal has ruled that the division of assets in a civil partnership 'divorce' should be treated in a similar way to those in a heterosexual divorce, reports the Telegraph.

The case concerned the ending of a civil partnership between Mr Lawrence, an equity analyst, and Mr Gallagher, an actor. The couple had lived together since 1997 and entered into a civil partnership in 2007, but broke up several months later.

The couple had joint assets worth around £4 million, but the majority of their income had come from Mr Lawrence, while Mr Gallagher had taken more of a 'home making' role, in addition to his acting. The couple had two properties, including a London flat that Mr Lawrence had bought before the couple got together.

After their separation, a judge awarded Mr Gallagher assets worth around £1.7 million, however Mr Lawrence argued that this was too big a share. According to the Telegraph, the Court of Appeal agreed and ruled that the value of the settlement be reduced in recognition of the original value of the London property.

The government has launched a consultation on how to lift the ban on same-sex couples marrying in a civil ceremony.

A recently published bulletin by the Office for National Statistics has set out provisional annual statistics on marriages that took place in England and Wales during 2010.

Stonewall, the lesbian, gay and bisexual charity, has published a draft parliamentary bill for extending the legal form of marriage to gay people. The Bill outlines the legislative steps necessary to give effect to a policy now supported by the main political party leaders.

The Office of National Statistics has published a bulletin giving statistics on live births in England and Wales in 2010 by characteristics of the mother. In particular, it provides birth statistics by age of mother, type of registration (within marriage/civil partnership, joint registration or sole registration), and average (mean) age of mother for all births and first births.

The Government has announced its intention to launch a consultation next spring on the legalisation of same-sex marriage, reports the BBC.

Following legal action brought by Liberty, a major multi-national company has agreed to give the civil partners of its employees the same pension benefits as spouses.

The Law Commission has announced that its 11th Programme of Law Reform will include a review of the enforcement of financial provision orders and child maintenance.