Call us: Mon - Fri 8:30am - 7pm, Sat - Sun 9am - 5pm
Call local rate 0330 056 3171
Mon - Fri 8:30am - 7pm | Sat - Sun 9am - 5pm
Call local rate 0330 056 3171
Mon - Fri 8:30am - 7pm | Sat - Sun 9am - 5pm

Civil partnerships have halved since gay marriage law

The number of new civil partnerships formed last year was 49 per cent down on the previous year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has announced.

A total of 861 new partnerships were made in 2015, compared to a significantly higher 1,683 in 2014. The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act legalising gay marriage in England and Wales came into force on March 29 that year.

The overall rate at which new civil partnerships are formed has now fallen by 85 per cent since 2013.

A sizeable percentage of the new partnerships formed last year – 48 per cent – were made between older couples  aged 50 or over. Before the introduction of same sex marriage they made up less than 20 per cent. The average age is now 48.5 years for men and 49.1 per cent for women. Three years ago it was just 40.8 years for men and 37.9 for women.

Meanwhile, the equivalent of divorce for civil partnerships, called dissolution, has also increased. There were 1,211 over 2015, 14 per cent more than in the previous year.

Elizabeth McLaren of the ONS said:

“Dissolutions are likely to reduce in the future as more same sex couples form marriages instead of civil partnerships.”

Read more here.

The blog team at Stowe is a group of writers based across our family law offices who share their advice on the wellbeing and emotional aspects of divorce or separation from personal experience. As well as pieces from our family law solicitors, guest contributors also regularly contribute to share their knowledge.

Contact us

As the UK's largest family law firm we understand that every case is personal.

Comment(1)

  1. Andrew says:

    How surprising. Couples previously offered the silver medal – which was a great step forward at the time – now offered the Gold Standard prefer the latter!

Leave a comment

Help & advice categories

Subscribe
?
Get
more
advice
Close

Newsletter Sign Up

Sign up for advice on divorce and relationships from our lawyers, divorce coaches and relationship experts.

What type of information are you looking for?


Privacy Policy
Close
Close