To feel discriminated against because I cannot enter into a Civil Partnership because we are not Gay.

[happyclapper]

Having been married twice before and feeling it is, for me, a meaningless institution, I would like some legal form of commitment to my partner of 13yrs.
We have 2DS and I now only work part-time in order to facilitate my partners career and a stable home.
Consequently I have no pension and would be left fairly high and dry should anything happen to my partner.
This could be covered by a Will I quess but that would not help me if we simply decided to split.
I had a good job, pension scheme etc but have no chance now of returning after a 8yr abscence.
I think a civil arrangement would be perfect and can't understand why only same sex couples can enter into it.

Emmieging. Urmm how have you come to the conclusion that there is ' absolutely no reason for me to step down from my career'? There were alot of practical issues which made it make sense if our family unit was going to work well and we are ALL happier for it, it just leaves me unprotected legally.
Thank-you Rockpool and Panicking idiot. You seem to understand what I mean.
Maybe CP isn't much different to marriage but it offers all the legal benefits and protection and I felt that was more what is was to do with than the emotional side which I am sure couples doing it do include but if that was all they wanted then they could get some sort of Blessing or make their own vows and ceremony up.

I agree with wheezo, there is an argument for extending civil partnerships to non-romantic relationships to formalise property etc commitments.

Oh for crying out loud, civil ceremony, as much or as little fuss as you want.

You are just being reactionary to make some sort of meaningless point.

Yes, YABU.

sorry, her children

yousankmybattleship......I DON'T WANT TO BE MARRIED. Clear?

The last time I looked into civil marriage procedure the couple has to have a 15 minute ceremony during which promises are made.Prior to this there is loads of woo re asking permission etc,etc.

We don't want to do any of that or be known legally as husband and wife.If anybody could link me to details which show civil marriage to be different to the above I'd be grateful.

OP - surely to suggest that a CP isn't as important or as nice an event as a wedding (this is what you are implying with the whole "not hand holding" type comments) is, imo, belittling the actual CP thing altogether. Gay people fought long and hard to have their right to marry, albeit not actually using that name. To many many gay people a CP is every bit as important and significant as a wedding.

Go to a register office and ask for the simpliest wedding ceremony as you can have - I am very sure they will do them without any of the romantic bits if you so wish.
Or go to a solictors and have all you affairs put in order so that each partner benefits equally or whatever you choose.

Thank-you Rockpool

rockpool, CP you still need to give notice

You straight couples do have different options -civil or religious marriage. Gays (currently) only have one. The only difference between a cp and a cm are that former is binding on signature jot vows and the name.. which labour did as a SOP to old Tories in the lords.

OP frankly in giving up your career you've taken on the old baggage pc marriage anyway. By all means get legal protection for that - and after the ceremony you can call yourself partners, spouses or whatever you like. You don't even need to tell people youve done it. It's a discrepancy but it is absolutely ridiculous to call it discrimination and frankly offensive to many of us in gay partnerships who frankly welcome the social recognition of akin to marriage with the baggage that entails and are still discriminated against by not being able to have the ceremonies in religious buildersngs where that's of personal significance. Get married or don't its your choice but don't let some half developed.sense of discrimination do you over financially.

Op has said she doesn't want to get marriage,many couples don't,there should be a choice for both.

they have 'typical' samples online, but as the legally required parts are the same for civil partnerships and marriage alike (and fairly minimal), what's your beef?

Rockpool the woo of asking permission - if you mean of bfastdes father that's hardly a significant legal aspect. If ypu mean notice that's legalize for cps as well.

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Registeringlifeevents/Marriagesandcivilpartnerships/DG_175717

In what way is a CP not a marriage - other than the name?
Genuinely curious as believed they were the same bar their name.

to put it another way, if civil partnership had been called 'marriage' too, would we be having this conversation? what's the difference other than the name

She has many choices -no frills civil ceremony and call the Damn thing a partnership thereafter, watertight wills and co habitation agreements or none and risk being left high and dry.

I dont understand the obstinance here.. go to a registry office, in a business suit, get the registrar to tell you that you are man and wife, walk out and just dont tell anyone. You will get the legal status that you want, and nobody needs to know other than those who you want to know for financial reasons.

Statutory Declaratory and Contracting Words. Civil Marriage Ceremony:

Declaratory Words
I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful
impediment why I, [your full name], may not be
joined in matrimony to [your partner's full name].

Contracting Words
I call upon these persons here present to witness that I,
[your full name], do take thee, [your partner's full name],
to be my lawful wedded wife [or husband].

This is not all that "woo" to my ears

Edgar only diff are 1) how it becomes binding vows or signing 2) can't take on title if spouse gets a knighthood etc.

daisies - exactly.

OP, I guess that if you had a civil partnership abroad it wouldn't give you legal rights here?

FWIW, I chose to get married, but I do have friends who didn't want to get married, so do understand the ins-and-outs of the argument and I do think you have a valid point.

It's a discrepancy but it is absolutely ridiculous to call it discrimination

Is civil partnership exactly the same as marriage in all but name? Or do they confer slightly different rights?

In France the two differ on quite a few points. Civil partnership is available to both same sex and opposite sex couples. Marriage isn't currently available to gays, and yes, I consider it discrimination and disagree with it.

But if the two are different in the UK too, then it is equally discriminative to only allow them to certain kinds of couples and not to anyone who wants them.

That link doesn't show the exact procedures.When we did our research their was a ceremony involved(with promises) with a marriage but not an arrangement.Dp's sis and bil are of exactly the same opinion as us,have been together just as long with dc.They're loaded so were forced into a civil marriage as they have a lot of savings,etc.

They had to do the ceremony which involved promises.They didn't tell anyone and went to Tesco's after,don't wear rings etc but it isn't what they wanted and they were forced into it.That is wrong.

Useful article that explains the argument for this.