This gives civil partners the same legal rights as married couples on a number of key areas such as tax and pension benefits.

If a civil partnership breaks down, you do not obtain a divorce; instead your civil partnership can be dissolved. The procedure is very similar to divorce with the following requirements:

1. You must have been civil partners for a minimum of one year

2. You must show that your civil partnership has irretrievably broken down by one of the following:

• Your civil partner has behaved in such a way for it to be unreasonable to expect you to continue living together
• You have lived separate and apart for 2 years and your partner consents to a dissolution
• Your civil partner has deserted you for a continuous period of 2 years
• You have lived separate and apart for 5 years

You shall be treated in the same way as a married couple for any financial issues, and the procedure and ability to apply for parental responsibility for children is no different either.