Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Civil partnership definition

What does Civil partnership mean? A civil partnership is a legally recognised relationship formed by registration that gives a couple rights and obligations broadly equivalent to marriage, including in property ownership, succession, pensions, tax treatment, immigration status and parental responsibility. It is commonly used as an alternative to marriage in family, private client and pensions practice. In England and Wales and in Northern Ireland, civil partnerships are created and dissolved under the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (as amended). Since 2019–2020, both same-sex and opposite-sex couples may register. In Scotland, civil partnerships are governed by the 2004 Act as adapted and the Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2020;...

Marriage in England and Wales: definition, capacity and formalities, validity and non-marriage, immigration notice/referral scheme, and 2023 minimum age change (including same-sex couples)

Published by a LexisNexis Family expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note explores the legal definition of marriage, including marriages between same-sex couples. It also reviews case law on capacity to marry and the procedural requirements for marriage. The principal statutory provisions are found in the Marriage Act 1949 (MA 1949) and the Marriage Act 1994 (MA 1994). This Note addresses both the formal steps required for a valid marriage and the ability to marry. The Marriage and Civil partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 (MCP(MA)A 2022), in force from 27 February 2023, amends MA 1949 by raising the minimum age for marriage from 16 to 18, ending provisions that allowed 16–17-year-olds to marry with parental or judicial consent (see: LNB News 10/08/2022 22)...

General Principles

General principles have been examined in cases concerning capacity to marry within the courts. In Re SK (vulnerable adult capacity), Wood J considered an Application by a local authority for, inter alia, a declaration that a vulnerable adult lacked the capacity to marry...

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Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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