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Civil Partnerships
The Civil Partnership Act 2004 received Royal Assent on 18 November 2004. The fist Civil Partnership registrations took place on 21st December 2005. Sheffield City Council Register Office is taking bookings and provisional bookings for Civil Partnership ceremonies in the city. Follow this link to the Register Office section of our site for more information on how to make arrangements for a ceremony.
Government Quote:
"This is one of the most significant pieces of social legislation the Government has introduced. The Civil Partnership Act sends a clear message that we value and support the contribution committed same-sex couples make to each other and to our society.
“A loving relationship, whether of opposite-sex couples or same-sex couples, benefits society as a whole and I am delighted that this Act is now on the statute book.
“I hope this Act will help create a more equal society. It opens the way to respect, recognition and justice for those who have been denied them for too long.”
The Act creates a new legal relationship of civil partnership, which two people of the same-sex can form by signing a registration document. It also provides same-sex couples who form a civil partnership with parity of treatment in a wide range of legal matters with those opposite-sex couples who enter into a civil marriage.
Important rights and responsibilities will flow from forming a civil partnership, helping same-sex couples to organise their lives together. Provisions in the Act include:
- a duty to provide reasonable maintenance for your civil partner and any children of the family;
- Civil partners to be assessed in the same way as spouses for child support;
- equitable treatment for the purposes of life assurance;
- employment and pension benefits;
- recognition under intestacy rules;
- access to fatal accidents compensation;
- protection from domestic violence; and
- recognition for immigration and nationality purposes.
What we have been doing in Sheffield
When the Act recieved Royal Assent, Legal and Governance and the Corporate Policy Unit looked at the practicalities of implementing and promoting the Register in Sheffield. The register office began to take provisional bookings in the summer of 2005. We have met with the Sheffield LGBT Multi Agency Group and consulted with people at a local LGB event ‘Spring Out’ to ensure that people are involved in discussions about the best way to implement the Register. We have also had some very positive coverage on the Civil Partnership arrangements in the local and gay media.
Civil Partnership Road Show
On 13th August 2005 a road show was held in Sheffield to offer couples legal advice. Pink Weddings (the first dedicated gay weddings company of its kind) in association with National Legal Services (NLS), Gay.com and Sheffield City Council put on the event so same sex couples could find out the facts about the new law on Civil Partnerships and ask legal rights questions.
The audience were given a warm welcome by Sheffield’s Lord Mayor, following which the speakers gave comprehensive legal and financial information. Attendees then put questions to the legal experts and browsed information stalls provided by the Council, South Yorkshire Police, Unison, Pink Weddings, NLS, Sheffield Homes and others.
Feedback indicated the audience was impressed that Sheffield had taken the step to host this event and they found the information extremely helpful. One attendee said: “I was impressed with the amount of information provided in clear language, even the complicated legal aspects.”
One of the event organisers, Sheffield City Council’s Policy Officer, Kate Flannery, said: “There was a really good turnout and the audience had lots of questions. The event was due to finish at 4pm, but we didn’t wrap up until after 5pm.”
Ministerial Visit
On 21st October 2005 the council organised a ministerial reception for Megg Munn MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Women and Equality) and same sex couples who had made provisional bookings for civil partnerships at the Sheffield Register Office. The reception gave the council another opportunity to promote civil partnerships and for couples to meet up with one of the ministers responsible for the Civil Partnership Act.
Megg Munn said “The Civil Partnership Act is a landmark change in the law that will give lesbian and gay couples in Sheffield many of the same rights as married partners.” “The Government is committed to equality for all, and in our modern society it is only right that gay and lesbian couples who have made a decision to share their lives should be given the recognition they deserve.
The First Civil Partnership Ceremony in Sheffield
On Wednesday 21st December 2005 Sheffield held its first Civil Partnership ceremony in Sheffield Town Hall. Robert Forman and Dr Martin Hayes-Allen registered their Civil Partnership in the presence of approximately 80 people. This Civil Partnership ceremony was amongst the first in the country. Sheffield Council Leader, Jan Wilson who was also in attendance for this significant and historic occasion, presented the couple with a certificate honouring them as the first couple to hold their Civil Partnership ceremony in Sheffield Town Hall.
Civil Partnership Award
In May 2006 the Centre for HIV and Sexual Health and SHOUT Centre awarded the Sheffield Register Office for its work to introduce Civil Partnerships.
Steve Slack, Director of the Centre for HIV and Sexual Health said:
"The service is a shining example to other services locally and nationally of a genuine commitment to deliver a high quality service to diverse communities"
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