What happens in the Dissolution of a Civil Partnership?
Dissolution of a civil partnership is through Order of the Court. Similar to divorce, an application for dissolution can only be made 12 months after the registration and the ground for dissolution is the breakdown of the relationship.  Again like divorce, there are a number of grounds to prove failure of the relationship namely:

• Unreasonable behaviour (i.e the behaviour of your partner means that you cannot reasonably live together).
• The parties have been separated for two years and it is agreed in writing that the partnership should be dissolved.
• Your partner has deserted you for or at least two years.
• The parties have been separated for at least five years.

These are the same grounds as for divorce with one exception, which is that adultery cannot be the basis for dissolution of a civil partnership.

As with divorce, once a civil partnership is dissolved, the Courts have powers to make Orders dealing with arrangements for residence and contact of any children of the relationship. The Court can also make Orders for the couple’s assets i.e property, pension, lump sum, and maintenance orders. Courts usually take the same approach toward financial issues in dissolutions of civil partnerships as they do in marriage breakdowns.

As with married couples, for those who prefer to avoid a formal dissolution, there is also the possibility of annulling a partnership.

Judge & Priestley also offers mediation for gay couples going through the dissolution of a civil partnership.