The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released figures which indicate there was an increase in the number of civil partnerships last year. The provisional figures for 2011 show there were a total of 6,795civil partnerships formed, representing an increase of 6.4 per cent on 2010’s figures.
The recent figures also reveal that the total number of people in civil partnerships in the UK has far exceeded the number as estimated in an impact study prior to the new law being introduced. To the end of 2011, a total of 106,834 individuals were registered civil partners. The estimated take up from the initial impact study was that between 11,000 and 22,000 people would be in civil partnerships by the end of 2010.
The ONS statistical bulletin also revealed, however, that there was an increase in the number of couples having a civil partnership dissolution granted; there were 672 last year – an increase of 28.7 per cent compared to 2010 figures.
Civil partnerships became legal in England and Wales in 2005 following the Civil Partnership Act 2004. Following the introduction of the new law, there was an initial spike in the number of partnerships formed – with over 15,000 gay couples formalising their relationship in 2006.
Farleys have one of the leading family law departments in the North West and regularly deal with legal issues surrounding same sex couples including the drawing up of a pre-partnership agreement, civil partnership dissolution and cohabitation agreements. For free initial legal advice, please do not hesitate to contact one of our experienced family law solicitors.
By Barry Bunyan, Family Law Solicitor