Overview

This bill proposes to amend the Civil Partnership Act 2004 to allow opposite-sex couples to enter into civil partnerships, mirroring the rights currently available to same-sex couples.

Description

The core change introduced by this bill is the removal of the phrase "of the same sex" from Section 1(1) of the Civil Partnership Act 2004. This alteration would effectively extend the legal framework of civil partnerships to include heterosexual couples. The bill also includes a short title clause, designating it as the "Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Amendment) Act 2014," and specifies that its extent is identical to the original Act.

Government Spending

The bill is unlikely to significantly increase or decrease government spending. The administrative costs associated with processing civil partnership applications for opposite-sex couples are expected to be minimal and absorbed within existing budget allocations. No specific figures were provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

The bill would directly impact:

• Opposite-sex couples: They would gain the legal right to enter into civil partnerships, providing them with the same legal protections and rights afforded to same-sex couples in civil partnerships.
• Civil partnership registrars and related officials: They would need to adapt their processes to accommodate applications from opposite-sex couples.
• Legal professionals: Lawyers specializing in family law would need to adjust their advice and practice to reflect the change.

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