Civil partnerships for heterosexual couples

[Booldawg]

Sorry, can only find old news link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11625835

A couple local to us are fighting their case this week for civil partnerships to be made legal for hetero couples. As it stands CPs are only recognised for same sex couples.

Have they got a case? or not really because they could get married. Are CPs a good compromise for people who want to commit but not neccessarily do the whole married thing?

[LoftyLottie]

Well according to some religious people, I am not married. Not really bothered what they call our relationship Jayne. We are two people who choose to be together and have an agreement which gives us legal protection. That is all I need!!

[LoftyLottie]

LOL Eth!! I certainly wouldn't ever do it again!! (and no I am not fed up with Mr LL)

[LoftyLottie]

Not necessarily now Doc. Benefits can be split between two partners!!

[ganesh]

I hate ceremonies of all kinds and we have never married athough been together for 30 + years.We do not get the same financial rights as a married couple re pensions and so on,and if it was just signing a form or doing it online I probably would.I hate the whole 'man and wife' and vows nonsense and I doubt if there is much difference between Civil Partnership and marriage ceremonies. It should all be equal though.gay or straight.

[boxtops]

That's what I mean - if it's the same and gives you the same rights - where's the difference? The state is still recognising a long-term relationship, whether you choose to marry or partner.

[jake-the-peg]

So if they could have a civil partnership what would the difference be from a civil wedding in a registry office?

[ganesh]

Nothing except maybe the wording,and maybe no vows? Never been to a gay one so I don't know but the registery office wedding I went to was VERY ceremonial.

[woofgang]

what i do think is there should be some sort of equality in law between civilly partnered (did I just invent a new phrase?), married, and couples who have other cohabitant partnerships, friends, mums and adult children etcet. I remember Nigel Hawthorn talking about the fact that his long term partner wouldn't be dealt with under the same inheritance law. cohabiting friends or children should be able to register their partnership to protect financial and legal interests and to be able to be treated as next of kin even if they aren't.

[LoftyLottie]

My wedding wasn't at all ceremonial. No added extras at all!!

[LoftyLottie]

http://www.leicester....riage/5-the-ceremony/

[ethandron]

no, neither was my registry office wedding. no vows, very little ceremony, in and out as quickly as possible which suited us. if we could have nipped out and had it done in our lunch break, we would have done. big sister had the full white, ceremonial RAF wedding in church 6 months earlier. she divorced 19 years later, we've been married for 35 happy years.

[LoftyLottie]

Beat you by 4 years Eth!!

[ganesh]

You do have to say a lot,lofty,according to that link,and it's so old-fashioned 'I call upon these persons'etc.who talks like that any more? Time it was modernised,or why can't you just sign something,have it witnessed and it'd be all done-just like other legal processes?

[ethandron]

:o)
just goes to show though doesn't it, lottie, you don't need to spend a fortune on fancy weddings (what's the average cost these days, something like £15,000?) to have a happy marriage.

[tamborine]

If they want legal recognition they need legal papers, a Marriage Certificate. Registry Office, oaths, signatures; 15mins.

What next, driving without a license 'cause you dont want to sign certs? We're all legally bound with certificates.

[ganesh]

We don't mind signing certificates,it's the speech,or words you have to say in front of everyone that I'd hatei.e the ceremony.Imagine if you had to say thinks like that every time you signed things,e.g in the bank..'I call upon these persons present to witness I'm taking out £20 from my current account..it would be embarrassing..lol

[LoftyLottie]

About one or two sentences each in front of a Registrar and two other people. Hardly embarassing or difficult it is. I don't even remember doing it and it was over quickly. I had to say more at the solicitors recently when I had to declare an oath!!

You don't have to have guests at the ceremony or afterwards. About 10 minutes in your life to have some legal recognition. Not really much is is Ganesh ?

[ganesh]

No.but why should I have to if I don't want to?. The fact that it's only 10 minutes is irrelevant.There's a lot of things that only last a few minutes that might not be particularly pleasant and I would rather not.(e.g you won't ever get me on a rollercoaster ever again !! lol)