Heterosexual couple win legal bid to have civil partnership

Heterosexual couple win legal bid for the right to have a civil partnership instead of a marriage

Today the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favour of Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan, enabling them to enter into a civil partnership instead of marriage. The couple who are in a committed relationship, having met in 2010 and have two children, are opposed to marriage for a variety of reasons and argued for the right to raise their children as equal partners.

In the unfortunate event that a civil partnership ends, it offers legal and financial protection for both parties in terms of inheritance, tax, pensions and next-of-kin arrangements such as they may expect in a marriage. However, it is free of the religious associations of marriage.

The law currently allows same sex couples to choose whether to enter a civil partnership or to marry. Up until now, this has not been possible for mixed-sex couples. Ms Steinfeld and Mr Keidan argued that this is discriminatory and a breach of their right to family life.

Whilst today’s ruling does not oblige the government to change the law, it is thought that this case will act in extending the right to a civil partnership for everyone, paving the way for further reform in this area of law. Currently there are around 63,000 same sex couples in civil partnerships and approximately 3.3 million co-habiting couples in the UK.

If you have any questions as to how to best protect you and your family now and in the future please contact our dedicated family law team Emma Rothstein, Partner https://www.pearsonhards.co.uk/site/people/profile/erothstein and Sarah Houston, Solicitor https://www.pearsonhards.co.uk/site/people/profile/shouston for a discrete and confidential meeting.