Difference Between Marriage and Civil Partnership

Published / Last Updated on 10/06/2018

What is the difference between marriage and a civil partnership? There is no legal difference between the two as far as rights, assets, next of kin, pension benefits etc but you cannot used the legal status of married if you are not, marriages have marriage certificates and you cannot dissolve a civil partnership under grounds of adultery unlike marriage.

Related Videos

Disinherit and Exclude People from Your Will

Disinherit and Exclude People from Your Will

It is legal to exclude people from your Will in England and Wales as well as Northern Ireland without restriction with no one having an automatic right to an ...

1m20d

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Statutory Legacy Increases on Death Without A Will

Statutory Legacy Increases on Death Without A Will

Intestacy is when you die without a will, or your will has failed or is invalid. Where there is no will on death, you are deemed to have died ...

1m28d

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Intestacy Married with Children in England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Intestacy Married with Children in England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

If you die without having made a Will, you die Intestate. Intestacy laws differ for England & Wales, Scotland and Northern. This Video Covers: Intestacy, Death Without A Will if ...

4m24d

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Intestacy No Spouse or Civil Partner in England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Intestacy No Spouse or Civil Partner in England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

If you die without having made a Will, you die Intestate. Intestacy laws differ for England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This Video Covers: Intestacy, Death Without A Will ...

> 1y4m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Attorneys Need to Register with Office for the Public Guardian

Attorneys Need to Register with Office for the Public Guardian

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is where someone (the donor) appoints others (usually relatives or friends) to make decisions about their health or their wealth if they lose ...

2m3d

Law, Wills, Attorneys

How to Challenge or Contest a Will

How to Challenge or Contest a Will

We already have a video published on what happens if a will becomes invalid. See: BTN_SECONDARY_VIDEO:1962 If you believe a will is invalid, you can challenge it or contest it. ...

3m21d

Law, Wills, Attorneys

What Makes A Will Invalid?

What Makes A Will Invalid?

If you do not have a will, you die intestate and your estate will be distributed according to the laws of intestacy for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. ...

3m22d

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Can Lasting Powers of Attorney Make or Change A Will

Can Lasting Powers of Attorney Make or Change A Will

The simple answer to the question “Can an attorney appointed in a Lasting Powers of Attorney make or change a Will?” is no. An attorney cannot just make a ...

3m26d

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Understanding Words and Terminology Used In A Will

Understanding Words and Terminology Used In A Will

We have drafted hundreds of Wills for clients over the years and for clarity, the definitions of specific words, legal standards, historic reasons, precedent and common law, some words ...

7m14d

Law, Wills, Attorneys

10 Reasons to Make Lasting Powers of Attorney

10 Reasons to Make Lasting Powers of Attorney

Sadly, both physical and mental wellbeing has suffered for many over the last few years with covid-19, lockdown, pressures with the cost of living and more recently pressures on ...

7m19d

Law, Wills, Attorneys

10 Reasons to Make A Will

10 Reasons to Make A Will

Last week, HMRC confirmed inheritance tax (IHT) receipts April 2022 to December 2022 of £5.3bn meaning a forecasted record IHT take of around £8bn this year and in the ...

7m21d

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Still No Rights for Cohabiting or Common Law Partners

Still No Rights for Cohabiting or Common Law Partners

Are you cohabiting? Do you consider yourselves common law spouses and partners? If so, then you should know that in England and Wales there is still no such thing ...

10m8d

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Think Elderly when Making or Reviewing Lasting Powers of Attorney

Think Elderly when Making or Reviewing Lasting Powers of Attorney

Prompted by discussions with a client this week, we urge you all to think ahead when arranging your Lasting Powers of Attorney or if you have already made yours ...

10m18d

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Sharing Lasting Power of Attorney Online

Sharing Lasting Power of Attorney Online

Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) are where you give people or family power to look after and make your decisions on your behalf for your health or finances should ...

10m25d

Law, Wills, Attorneys

No Executor on a Will

No Executor on a Will

What is an Executor of a Will? An executor of your Will is the person or people you appoint to manage and carry out the instructions of your Will e.g., ...

> 1y2m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

What is a Living Will or Advance Decision?

What is a Living Will or Advance Decision?

A Living Will or Advance Decision is not a Last Will and Testament on death, it is a decision in advance that you have made in connection with treatment ...

> 1y2m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Quickie Divorce May Create Pension Wealth Gap

Quickie Divorce May Create Pension Wealth Gap

One month ago, we issued a video called “Quick Divorce Starts in April 2022” explaining that new faster, ‘no fault’ online divorce proceedings will start in April 2022. These ...

> 1y6m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

No Fault Online Quick Divorce Starts in April 2022

No Fault Online Quick Divorce Starts in April 2022

The no-fault divorce procedures as part of the Divorce, Dissolution Act 2020 were finally published by the Ministry of Justice in January 2022 setting out the requirements for a ...

> 1y7m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Beneficiary Flexible Access Drawdown BFAD

Beneficiary Flexible Access Drawdown BFAD

Investment Linked Pension Funds on Death: Firstly, most pension funds (although not all) are in trust i.e., they do not form part of the deceased’s estate for inheritance tax. Death ...

> 1y9m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Why Financial Advisers Will Not Be Executors of a Will

Why Financial Advisers Will Not Be Executors of a Will

Most authorised and regulated financial advisers do not have permissions from the Financial Conduct Authority to ‘handle client money’. In short, whether it is a pension transfer, a new investment ...

> 3y3m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Lasting Powers of Attorney Digital Notices Extended

Lasting Powers of Attorney Digital Notices Extended

The Office for the Public Guardian (OPG) has extended functionality for digital Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA). You can only a Lasting power of Attorney account via https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney/make-lasting-power. This still ...

> 2y4m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

The Hague Convention on UK and International Wills

The Hague Convention on UK and International Wills

The Hague Conference has 86 Members (85 States and the European Union) and develops multilateral legal instruments and agreements where different countries have different legal traditions, laws and customs ...

> 2y10m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Passwords Security Access Records On Death

Passwords Security Access Records On Death

Stories appear regularly of people dying with bitcoin accounts and executors cannot access the crypto currency account to establish whether there is any value or not. We suggest for any ...

> 3y8m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

What is a Predatorial Marriage

What is a Predatorial Marriage

Predatorial Marriage is on the rise. People marrying vulnerable, usually older people to inherit their wealth. There have been various court cases and it is all about mental capacity. With ...

> 3y10m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Lasting Powers of Attorney Decision Tree on Gift Rules

Lasting Powers of Attorney Decision Tree on Gift Rules

Powers of Attorney Test Cases and Decision Tree to test the scope of lasting powers of attorney regarding gifts and help donees (those that have the power). What is Permitted ...

> 3y10m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Acting in Best Interests Under Lasting Powers of Attorney

Acting in Best Interests Under Lasting Powers of Attorney

Laws on Ensuring Donee Acts in Best Interests of the Donor – Section 4 Mental Health Act 2005. Donor = the person who set up the Power of Attorney Donee = ...

> 3y10m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Restrictions or Restraints Under Lasting Powers of Attorney

Restrictions or Restraints Under Lasting Powers of Attorney

What restrictions or restraints apply under Lasting Powers of Attorney? Donor = the person who set up the Power of Attorney Donee = the person appointed to act on behalf of ...

> 3y10m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Permitted Gifting under S12 Mental Capacity Act 2005

Permitted Gifting under S12 Mental Capacity Act 2005

What is Permitted Gifting under S.12. Mental Capacity Act 2005? Donor = the person who set up the Power of Attorney Donee = the person appointed to act on behalf ...

> 3y10m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

What Executors Must Do Before Applying for Probate

What Executors Must Do Before Applying for Probate

What executors must to secure probate: “Tell us Once” – one online form that notifies all governmemt type organisations of the death e.g. passport office, DVLC, council tax, NHS. Deal with ...

> 3y10m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

STEP Powers in a Will

STEP Powers in a Will

Extract from a Will with STEP powers: "The reverse side of every page of my Will is intentionally left blank with the STEP Powers preceding this clause". "In my Will where ...

> 4y

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Overseas Executors of a UK Will

Overseas Executors of a UK Will

It is sensible to not appoint executors overseas but to appoint an executor in the UK for a UK Will. Overseas executors may not speak English. Overseas executors my have ...

> 4y

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Overseas Beneficiary of a UK Will

Overseas Beneficiary of a UK Will

Overseas beneficiaries may have to do quite a lot before receiving benefits from your Will or payments from pension funds on death or life insurance pay outs either in ...

> 4y

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Attorney or Deputy Gifting Incapacitated Person Money

Attorney or Deputy Gifting Incapacitated Person Money

It is difficult for an Attorney (acting under a Lasting Power or an Enduring Power of Attorney) or a Deputy (appointed by the Court of Protection) to give an ...

> 4y1m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Your Will Cancels When You Get Married

Your Will Cancels When You Get Married

If you made a Will before getting married and did NOT make reference to your forthcoming marriage date in the Will, your current Will becomes null and void i.e. ...

> 4y2m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Expression of Wish Pensions Wills and Attorney

Expression of Wish Pensions Wills and Attorney

Do them right now! .... Expression of Wish for Pensions on Death, Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney Wills - deal with your estate and funeral and gifts. Lasting Powers of ...

> 4y4m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Get Professional Advice If Trustee Of A Will

Get Professional Advice If Trustee Of A Will

As a trustee, you are personally liable for taking actions to protect the interests of the beneficiaries of the trust. You must get independent, professional advice to protect both you, ...

> 4y4m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Lasting Power Of Attorney Low Cost Discount

Lasting Power Of Attorney Low Cost Discount

Discount and low cost Lasting Powers of Attorney available. Why you do you need a Power of Attorney?...

> 4y7m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Estopple Ruling on Mirror Mutual Wills Case

Estopple Ruling on Mirror Mutual Wills Case

Court finds wills to be mutual despite a contrary wording in them. Judge states mutual wills may not require a contract and that they could be based on proprietary ...

> 5y1m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Changing Lasting Powers of Attorney

Changing Lasting Powers of Attorney

Can I change a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)? Can you remove an attorney? Can you add an attorney? We explain what you can and cannot change with a ...

> 5y3m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Putting a Pension In Trust on Death

Putting a Pension In Trust on Death

On death your pension fund may pass to your spouse, partner or dependents. What if your partner remarries? What if your partner subsequently bequeaths all wealth outside your bloodline. ...

> 5y4m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Pension Will on Death

Pension Will on Death

Pensions do not usually form part of your estate on death. An 'expression of wish' form is completed to help pension scheme trustees decide who you should inherit your ...

> 5y4m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Making A Will For Someone Else

Making A Will For Someone Else

Can you make a Will for someone else? When making a Will for another person e.g. with no mental capacity or where there is a Lasting Power of Attorney ...

> 5y9m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Joint Bank Accounts on Death

Joint Bank Accounts on Death

What happens to joint bank accounts on death?...

> 5y10m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

What To Do When Someone Dies

What To Do When Someone Dies

Video explains the basic stages about what to do when someone dies....

> 5y10m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Resomation Green Cremation

Resomation Green Cremation

Resomation, sometimes called a green cremation, is where your body tissue is dissolved using an alkaline solution just leaving your skeleton that is returned to family in powder form ...

> 5y10m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Married Death and No Will

Married Death and No Will

What happens if you are married or in a civil partnership and have no will?...

> 5y11m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Not Married Death and No Will

Not Married Death and No Will

What happens if you are single or in a relationship and not married or not in civil partnership and have no will?...

> 5y11m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Why Financial Advisers Do Not Sell Pre Paid Funeral Plans

Why Financial Advisers Do Not Sell Pre Paid Funeral Plans

Your questions answered: Why Financial Advisers Do Not Sell Pre Paid Funeral Plans - it's all about the protection and compensation....

> 6y

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Duty of Care Executor Trustee of a Will

Duty of Care Executor Trustee of a Will

Video explores the duty of care places on an executor/trustee of a Will. The requirement to make prudent 'sensible' decisions with regard to assets, money and property in a ...

> 6y1m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Different Types of Will

Different Types of Will

We explain the difference between a standard Will, mirror Wills and an advanced Will....

> 6y4m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Can I Resign As Will Executor

Can I Resign As Will Executor

Can I resign as the executor of a Will? We answer this question in just a few minutes....

> 6y6m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Keep Account Numbers Records With Will

Keep Account Numbers Records With Will

Video suggests that you should keep a permanent record of all financial, investment, pension and insurance accounts with your Will....

> 7y1m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Why You Must Make A Will

Why You Must Make A Will

Video looks at impact of not making a Will and why you must do one to avoid intestacy i.e. death without a Will....

> 7y1m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Tell People Where You Keep Your Will

Tell People Where You Keep Your Will

Video explores why you should tell people where you store and keep your Will because it can lead to difficult problems when dealing with your estate if it cannot ...

> 7y1m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

What To Include In A Will

What To Include In A Will

Video explores some essential information that you should include in your Will. More detail is better in a Will....

> 7y1m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Death Succession Planning for Partnerships

Death Succession Planning for Partnerships

Video explores succession planning for partnerships on death looking at the three types of partnership agreement: automatic accrual, buy and sell agreement and cross option agreement....

> 7y4m

Business

Which Will Is Used If Die Simultaneously

Which Will Is Used If Die Simultaneously

Video looks at simultaneous death i.e. you die at the same time as your partner, who's Will would be used?...

> 7y4m

Inheritance

Probate Fees and Limits 2016

Probate Fees and Limits 2016

Video: What is probate? What is the probate limit? When is probate required? What are the proposed limits following the Government consultation 2016?...

> 7y5m

Inheritance

Enduring Power of Attorney v Lasting Power of Attorney

Enduring Power of Attorney v Lasting Power of Attorney

Video explores the differences between a pre 2007 Enduring Power of Attorney v Lasting Power of Attorney October 2007 onwards, the powers, options, certificate provider and registration with Office ...

> 7y10m

Care

Lasting Power of Attorney with Pension Flexible Drawdown

Lasting Power of Attorney with Pension Flexible Drawdown

Video explores the need to have a Lasting Power of Attorney in place if you have flexible pension drawdown. If you lose capacity who will give instructions to get ...

> 7y11m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Disinherit Children From A Will

Disinherit Children From A Will

Video looks at the recent Court of Appeal increase in the share of an estate for a daughter who was disinherited from a Will by her mother and the ...

> 8y1m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Brussels IV Overseas Holiday Home on Death

Brussels IV Overseas Holiday Home on Death

Do you own an overseas holiday home? Are you thinking of buying an overseas home?Video looks at the Brussels IV Succession Law and agreement with most EU Nations to ...

> 8y3m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Video explores the basic Last Will and testament for partners making Mirror WIlls and our Mirror Will service.Transcript:“Hello there and thank you for joining me. The subject for my ...

> 8y7m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Cannot Sign A Lasting Power of Attorney

Cannot Sign A Lasting Power of Attorney

Video explains the solution if you lose physical capacity but you still want to appoint a lasting power of attorney but cannot sign the paperwork.Transcript“Hello there, quite a serious ...

> 8y10m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Advance Decision for Medical Treatment

Advance Decision for Medical Treatment

Video explains the choices you can make for medical treatment if you are not able to decide at the time that are legally binding via an 'advance decision' and ...

> 8y10m

Care

Codicil Change Your Will

Codicil Change Your Will

Video explains the two options to change your will either by codicil or a brand new will.Transcript:“Hello again. The subject for this video is changing your will, a codicil.What’ ...

> 8y11m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Death Without A Will Intestacy 2014

Death Without A Will Intestacy 2014

Video looks at what happens if you die without a Will following new laws that started on 1st October 2014.Transcript:“Hello there. Right, some major changes that have gone on ...

> 8y11m

Inheritance

Exclude People From My Will

Exclude People From My Will

Video explains the ability to exclude people from your Will and the pitfalls that may arise if excluding immediate family...

> 8y11m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Wills for Overseas Property and Money

Wills for Overseas Property and Money

Video explains the procedure for making UK or overseas Will for overseas property and money...

> 8y11m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

What Happens to Private Pension on Death

What Happens to Private Pension on Death

Video to explain what happens to private pensions and personal pensions on death...

> 9y2m

Pensions

Probate Explained

Probate Explained

Video explaining what probate is, when it is required and who should do it...

> 9y2m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

What Happens to Debt on Death

What Happens to Debt on Death

Video explaining the basics of what happens to debt on death both in your sole name and if joint names debt...

> 9y3m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

What to do if Executor of a Will

What to do if Executor of a Will

Video explaining the basics on what to do if you have been appointed as an Executor of a Will. Basic duties and a simple checklist of what you need ...

> 9y3m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Nil Rate Band Without a Will

Nil Rate Band Without a Will

Alistair Darling made it so if you die without using up all of your nil rate band you could transfer the remaining to your spouse or civil partner. Now, ...

> 9y9m

Tax Plan

Death Without a Will Northern Ireland

Death Without a Will Northern Ireland

Dying without a will is known as intestacy. These are the rules with intestacy in Northern Ireland.If you die without a will in Northern Ireland then your spouse will ...

> 9y10m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Death Without a Will Scotland

Death Without a Will Scotland

Dying without a will is know as intestacy. These are the rules with intestacy in Scotland.If you die without a will in Scotland then your spouse will not inherit ...

> 9y10m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Death Without a Will England and Wales

Death Without a Will England and Wales

Intestacy means dying without a will. These are the rules for England and Wales. If the value of the estate is £250,000 or below then all of this will ...

> 9y10m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Changing A Will After Death

Changing A Will After Death

A deed of variation is the ability to change someone’s will after they have passed.Up to 2 years after a person has passed you make can changes their will.All ...

> 9y10m

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Videos Channels

Our Financial Advice Fees Quotes and Shop

Money Tips Cost of Living & Covid

Cost of Living & Covid

Markets & Alerts

Markets & Alerts

Expat & Offshore

Expat & Offshore

At Retirement Options for Pensions

Options At Retirement

Pension Transfers

Pension Transfers

Green Inv ESG SRI

Green Inv ESG SRI

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Law, Wills, Attorneys

Politics and Economy

Politics & Economy