A civil partnership is a legal relationship which can be registered by two people who aren't related to each other. Civil partnerships are available to both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples. Registering a civil partnership will give your relationship legal recognition. This will give you added legal rights, as well as responsibilities. To register a civil partnership, you and your partner must sign a civil partnership document in front of two witnesses and a registrar. In some situations, a couple who have not registered a civil partnership will have the same legal rights and responsibilities...

Your legal rights as a partner may depend on whether you are married or living together. Living together with someone is sometimes also called cohabitation. Generally speaking, you will have fewer rights if you're living together than if you're married. This information explains the legal differences between being married and living together. In England and Wales, this covers same-sex partners who can now get married. It does not cover civil partnerships. For more information see Civil partnerships and living together – legal differences. Legal status Living together Although there is...

Who can get married In the United Kingdom, opposite sex couples can marry in a civil or religious ceremony. Same sex couples can marry in a civil ceremony, but can only get married in a religious ceremony if the religious organisation has agreed to marry same sex couples. Same sex couples cannot marry in the Church of England or the Church in Wales. Same sex couples who marry abroad under foreign law are recognised as being married in England and Wales. You can find out more about marriage for same sex couples on the Stonewall website. All couples can marry if they're both aged 18 or over...