The text below is derived from the briefing
note entitled "CIVIL PARTNERSHIP ACT 2004 – FACTSHEET"
which was issues to all Service personnel in Oct 05. A further DIN
(2005DIN02-186) is available on defenceNet (dii
access required)
The Civil Partnership
Act 2004 (CPA 2004) received
Royal Assent on 18 Nov 04 and came into force on 5 Dec 05. Civil
partnership is a completely new legal relationship, which can only
be formed by two people of the same sex. It gives same sex couples
the ability to obtain legal recognition for their relationship. Couples
who form a civil partnership will have a new legal status – that
of “civil partner”. The CPA 2004 will provide same-sex
couples with parity of treatment, in a wide range of legal matters,
with opposite-sex couples who enter into a civil marriage.
Civil partners will be able to accrue survivor pensions in
public service schemes and contracted-out pension schemes from 1988
(In line with existing legislation which equalised treatment of the
sexes for pension purposes with effect from 6 April 1988). They will
be treated in the same way as married couples for tax purposes.
From
5 Dec 05 Service personnel who register a partnership under
the
terms of the
CPA 2004, or have already entered into an equivalent same sex
union in a country whose civil partnership scheme is recognised by
the
CPA 2004, and provide proof of such registration in the same way
as personnel
are required to provide proof of marriage, will be afforded the
same status category as married personnel and will be entitled to
the same range of allowances and benefits as married personnel.
This
document and accompanying Question and Answer material supplements
the information contained in the Joint
Service DIN "2005DIN02-186" on
the introduction of the CPA 2004 by providing additional guidance
on those questions most likely to be asked by Service personnel.
Further information on the procedure to register a civil partnership
and the rights and responsibilities of civil partners can be found
on the Department of Trade and Industry website at www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/civilpartnership
For further reading on proud2serve.net use the navigation/index
to the left of this page, or consult the partners' area on the public
forum where you can also join in the discussion.
page: partnerships ::
military info :: mil-partnerships.htm
updated: 15 Apr 06 |
