[UK] The Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) Regulations 2019

Members have asked us to highlight on our news page that the above regulations have come into force.  This is for the benefit of professionals, possibly most relevant in human resources departments.

The regulations were “made” on the 5^th of November 2019 and came into force on the 2^nd of December 2019.  As a result of devolution, they are applicable in England and wales only, though some parts do extend to other countries in the UK.

The simple purpose of the regulations is to allow two people who are not of the same sex to form a civil partnership in England and Wales.  It gives effect to government commitments made during the passage of the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019 to extend civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples.  The reason that the legislation is so long is that a number of other consequential changes have been made to other legislation for example the Equality Act 2010. 

Global Payroll Association Comment 

Anticipating queries, we would say that the reason that they were made and came into force at separate times and dates was to enable opposite sex couples who wish to form a civil partnership time to give the requisite 28 days’ notice and hold the ceremony by the end of 2019.

We applaud these regulations (that apply in England and Wales only).  Following a 2018 ruling in the Supreme Court that found current UK law was inconsistent on equality grounds against the European Convention on Human Rights, there are plans for opposite-sex civil partnerships to be allowed in Scotland via the Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament. 

Law changes are scheduled to be made in Northern Ireland by mid-January 2020 by Westminster as a result of provisions in the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019.

Members have asked us to highlight on our news page that the above regulations have come into force.  This is for the benefit of professionals, possibly most relevant in human resources departments.

The regulations were “made” on the 5^th of November 2019 and came into force on the 2^nd of December 2019.  As a result of devolution, they are applicable in England and wales only, though some parts do extend to other countries in the UK.

The simple purpose of the regulations is to allow two people who are not of the same sex to form a civil partnership in England and Wales.  It gives effect to government commitments made during the passage of the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019 to extend civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples.  The reason that the legislation is so long is that a number of other consequential changes have been made to other legislation for example the Equality Act 2010. 

Global Payroll Association Comment 

Anticipating queries, we would say that the reason that they were made and came into force at separate times and dates was to enable opposite sex couples who wish to form a civil partnership time to give the requisite 28 days’ notice and hold the ceremony by the end of 2019.

We applaud these regulations (that apply in England and Wales only).  Following a 2018 ruling in the Supreme Court that found current UK law was inconsistent on equality grounds against the European Convention on Human Rights, there are plans for opposite-sex civil partnerships to be allowed in Scotland via the Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill in the Scottish Parliament. 

Law changes are scheduled to be made in Northern Ireland by mid-January 2020 by Westminster as a result of provisions in the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019.