Overview

This bill amends the Civil Partnership Act 2004 to allow mixed-sex couples (male and female) to enter into civil partnerships, mirroring the existing rights available to same-sex couples.

Description

The bill makes several key amendments to the 2004 Act:

• It removes the restriction in Section 1 that civil partnerships are only for same-sex couples.
• It removes clauses in Sections 3, 86, and 138 that specify eligibility requirements related to same-sex couples.

In essence, this legislation opens up the option of a civil partnership to heterosexual couples who previously could only marry.

Government Spending

The bill is not expected to significantly impact government spending. The amendments are largely administrative in nature, focusing on legal changes rather than substantial financial implications.

Groups Affected

The main groups affected are:

• Mixed-sex couples: This bill grants them the legal option of a civil partnership.
• Civil partnership registrars and related service providers: They will likely experience an increase in workload.
• Legal professionals: They will need to adjust their advice and practices to account for the change.

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