Civil Partnership dissolution solicitors

If your civil partnership has deteriorated beyond repair and you wish to separate from your partner, it is important you seek legal advice on what this process involves and how you can protect your interests.

Many people are unsure of their rights when it comes to ending a civil partnership. Speaking with a family law solicitor at Holmes & Hills Solicitors will provide you with the advice, guidance and professional support you need at this difficult time.

Holmes & Hills Solicitors has a team of specialist Family Law lawyers experienced in advising clients on matters concerning their relationship and are recognised by the Legal 500 2018 for their expertise. Our team advises and represents clients across Essex and Suffolk on a wide range of issues. The legal advice and support we will offer you will cover:

• Finances and protecting your assets
• Property and living arrangements
• All matters concerning children if you have these with your partner, or one of you has children from a previous relationship
• Inheritance and protecting this asset
• Reaching and agreeing a binding settlement

The first step to getting expert advice

Call us today to arrange a convenient time to have a meeting with a Family Law lawyer to discuss your circumstances and get advice. This initial meeting will give you the opportunity to discuss with your lawyer the process involved in dissolving (ending) your civil partnership. Your lawyer will outline your rights, answer your questions, guide you on your options and advise you on the best course of action to take.

Family lawyers with seven offices across Essex and Suffolk

Holmes & Hills has seven offices across Essex and Suffolk. You can meet you Family Law lawyer at any one of our offices in Colchester (Marks Tey), Braintree, Witham, Sudbury, Halstead, Tiptree or Coggeshall. Simply tell us whichever is most convenient for you.

What is a Civil Partnership?

Civil Partnerships were introduced into UK law in 2004 under the Civil Partnership Act 2004, but did not come into force until 2005. Initially brought in to give legal rights and recognition to same sex couples, the law was changed in 2019 to allow heterosexual couples the right to enter into a Civil Partnership as an alternative to marriage.

Marriage and Civil Partnerships offer by and large the same rights, albeit one is a religious ceremony, and the other is not.

As with marriage, there are criteria that are a requirement of a Civil Partnership:

• both parties must be at least 18 years of age in England and Wales (or 16 years of age with parental consent in Scotland and Northern Ireland)
• must not already be married or already in a Civil Partnership
• the parties are not close blood relatives
• both parties have been living in the same area of the UK for at least seven days

Cohabitation does not offer the same degree of legal rights as either marriage or a Civil Partnership, but where neither of these arrangements are suitable, a cohabitation agreement can be drawn up in order to agree how finances may be dealt with in the event of the breakdown of the relationship.