Many heterosexual couples feel they do not wish to be married to each other.
However, there are so many known risks and dangers for cohabiting couples in terms of the lack of legal protection afforded to them (whether they remain together or separate), which will lead to the vulnerability of at least one party to the relationship, that there is now a movement aimed at recognising the ‘rights’ of heterosexual couples.
This position had been highlighted in February 2017 by a couple called Rebecca Steinfield and Charles Keidan. They had been in a relationship for three years when they decided they wanted to make it official.
They were very keen to commit to one another, but did not wish to have a traditional engagement or the man getting down on one knee; and they absolutely did not want to marry each other and have all the ‘fuss and fanfare’ of a wedding.
Having given a lot of thought to their situation, the couple decided they wanted a Civil Partnership, which they felt offered the same legal protections as a marriage, in terms of property rights and so forth and exemptions from inheritance tax.
Sadly for them, they were very concerned to discover the reality, which is that Civil Partnerships (which confer on parties the same rights as married couples) were only available for same sex couples at the time.
Since then, the heterosexual couple have won their legal bid for the right to have a civil partnership instead of a marriage. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favour of Rebecca Steinfeld, 37, and Charles Keidan, 41, from London.
As a result, civil partnerships have been open to all opposite-sex couples in England and Wales since 31 December 2019 — so if you and your partner are considering one, this is now a fully available legal option, not just a possibility being fought for.
Why would a straight couple want a civil partnership?
A civil partnership is a legal relationship that can be registered by two individuals that aren’t related to one another. This form of relationship is now available to both same and opposite sex couples as mentioned above.
Here are the main reasons as to why a couple might choose to have a civil partnership rather than a marriage:
- It is free of the religious aspects that a marriage involves
- Some couples object to marriage as an institution and its associations with property and patriarchy (a social system whereby men hold primary power)
- No vows necessary from either partner
- Use of the term partner rather than the historical “husband” or “wife”
- Still possessing identical legal rights compared to a marriage (in terms of financial, tax, next-of-kin and inheritance protection in case of a dissolution)
How do you obtain a civil partnership as a straight couple?
Registering a civil partnership grants you legal rights, similar to what you receive in a marriage.
Citizens Advice says that “To register a civil partnership, you and your partner must sign a civil partnership document in front of two witnesses and a registrar.”
Whilst you can enter into a civil partnership without a formal ceremony, you are still legally required to do this in a licenced venue.
The rise of civil partnerships
Since the introduction of civil partnerships for straight couples in December 2019, the number of civil partnerships have steadily increased.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) says that civil partner couple families have increased in the last decade, from an estimate of around 48,000 in 2015 to around 216,000 in 2025.
However, when comparing the number of civil partnerships, to the total amount of families in England and Wales, this number is not statistically significant (0.3% in 2015 to 1.1% in 2025), perhaps due to changes in legislation.
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Breakthrough Solicitors has offices in Harrow, Milton Keynes & London.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.
