Civil Partnership Dissolution Solicitors
Breakthrough Solicitors provides expert advice on civil partnership dissolution.
You don’t have to navigate this alone—start with a straightforward, free initial consultation with a family lawyer to understand your rights, responsibilities, and options.
Owner of Breakthrough Solicitors
Solicitor & Mediator
Father of Two
Why choose Breakthrough Solicitors for civil partnership dissolution matters?
A civil partnership is a legally recognised relationship that provides couples with many of the same legal rights and responsibilities as marriage, including rights relating to property, finances, pensions, and children. In England and Wales, civil partnerships are available to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples.
When a civil partnership breaks down, it must be formally ended through a legal process known as dissolution. You can only apply for dissolution after you have been in the civil partnership for at least one year. Although similar to divorce, dissolution proceedings can still raise complex financial and personal issues that require careful legal guidance.
The experienced family law team at Breakthrough Solicitors has been advising clients on civil partnership dissolution since the Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into force. We provide clear, straightforward, and sympathetic advice tailored to your circumstances.
We understand how difficult these proceedings can be, and we work closely with you to protect your interests and navigate each stage of the process with clarity and confidence.
- Transparent and trusted: Our positive client feedback reflects our professionalism, responsiveness, and client-focused approach during sensitive family law matters.
- Experienced team: Our civil partnership lawyers can advise you on a range of issues such as dissolution, financial settlements including: pensions, property division, and child arrangements, as well as cases involving high-value or complex assets.
- Strategic approach: We assess whether mediation, collaborative negotiation, or formal court proceedings are most appropriate, developing a tailored strategy to protect your financial and personal interests.
- Inclusive practice — We provide a welcoming, respectful service for all clients, including LGBTQ+ couples, with sensitivity to the unique dynamics that may arise in civil partnership matters.
- Location: Our specialist family law solicitors serve our clients across England & Wales. Some clients work with us remotely, others can visit our offices in Bucks, Berks, Herts & Middlesex, and London. Wherever you are, let Breakthrough Solicitors provide you with the specialist advice that you need.
- Multiple languages: Concise, jargon free and pragmatic legal advice in English, Hindi, Gujarati and Cantonese.
- Remote or Face-to-Face Meetings: Whether you prefer face-to-face meetings or the convenience of remote support, we can tailor our service to suit your needs during this difficult and often stressful time.
- Extended working hours: Monday – Friday: 8am – 8pm · Saturday: 9am – 6pm · Sunday: 11am – 5pm
Speak to a civil partnership dissolution solicitor today!
Owner of Breakthrough Solicitors
Solicitor & Mediator
Father of Two
How Breakthrough Solicitors handle your civil partnership dissolution
Civil partnerships can be dissolved for a variety of reasons, much like divorces. Couples may separate due to irreconcilable differences, changes in personal circumstances, or the breakdown of the relationship over time.
Many of our solicitors are husbands, wives, and parents themselves — they bring not only legal expertise, but genuine understanding and compassion to every case they handle.
Whilst the Civil Partnership Act 2004 provides the legal framework for ending a civil partnership, the process can often involves complex financial, property, and child-related considerations that require careful navigation.
At Breakthrough Solicitors, we provide a structured and practical approach to help you understand your rights, assess your options, and move forward with confidence.
Our Process:
- Initial consultation: We take the time to understand your circumstances, including your financial position, property ownership, pensions, and any arrangements concerning children. We explain the dissolution process clearly and outline the likely stages and timescales; dissolution typically takes around 6–9 months from application to final order, depending on how quickly financial and child‑related issues are resolved.
- Fixed fee meeting: After your initial free consultation, we offer a one-hour fixed-fee meeting with Akash Soni and a member of his experienced team of solicitors for £295 (incl VAT). It is an affordable way of getting legal advice and a first set of answers. Please note that, before your meeting, we’ll ask you to provide relevant documents to complete mandatory KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) checks.
- Next formal steps: If you’d like Breakthrough Solicitors to represent you after the fixed fee meeting, you’ll need to sign the client care letter to formally instruct us and put a retainer on the account (usually £500 but this depends on how much work is required on the case). Once the retainer is received, one of our solicitors will begin working on your case.
- Financial settlement: Civil partnership dissolution often involves reaching an agreement on the division of assets, which may include property, savings, investments, pensions, and business interests. We provide strategic advice to help ensure all assets are properly identified, valued, and considered as part of a fair outcome.
- Arrangements for children: If children are involved, we advise on parental responsibility, living arrangements, and financial provision, helping you prioritise their welfare while protecting your legal rights.
- Alternative dispute resolution: Where appropriate, we encourage mediation or collaborative negotiation to reach constructive agreements without unnecessary court proceedings.
- Formal proceedings: If formal proceedings are required, we provide clear representation and practical guidance at every stage.
- Final Order guidance: Once the Final Order is granted, the civil partnership is legally ended. We advise on the implications and aim to ensure that any financial arrangements are properly formalised to provide long-term certainty.
Other things to note:
- A final order legally ends your partnership but does not automatically settle your finances or arrangements for children. To prevent future financial claims and secure a “clean break,” you must obtain a separate, court-approved financial consent order.
- The legal framework for dissolving a civil partnership applies equally to same-sex and opposite-sex couples. The process, rights, and obligations around finances, property, and children are the same, so you can expect consistent guidance and support regardless of your circumstances.
Our civil partnership dissolution solicitors help protect your interests, preserving assets where possible to achieve a fair and sustainable resolution.
Preparing your civil partnership dissolution with a strong legal strategy
While many civil partnership dissolutions are resolved amicably, disagreements can arise — particularly around property, pensions, business interests, or arrangements for children. Early preparation and clear evidence can make a difference if negotiations become contested.
Under the Civil Partnership Act 2004, the court has broad discretion when determining financial and child-related matters. The outcome will depend on the specific circumstances of your partnership, the history of the relationship, and the evidence available.
Key steps in building a strong position include:
- Documenting the history of the partnership: Many civil partners lived together long before formal registration. Establishing when finances became interlinked, how assets were acquired, and the intentions behind property ownership can be critical if disputes arise.
- Clarifying ownership and financial contributions: Where property, savings, investments, or business interests are involved, detailed financial disclosure is essential. We help ensure that assets are properly identified and valued, and that your contributions — financial or otherwise — are clearly presented.
- Addressing pre-partnership and inherited assets: Questions frequently arise about assets acquired before the civil partnership or received by way of inheritance. A structured legal approach is important to protect your position and assess potential claims.
- Pensions and long-term provision: Pension rights can represent one of the most valuable assets in a partnership. Accurate valuation and, where necessary, expert input are key to ensuring fair consideration.
- Children and parental involvement: If disagreements arise about living arrangements or decision-making, it is vital to demonstrate a consistent and child-focused approach. Courts prioritise the welfare of the child, and evidence of involvement and cooperation can be influential.
- Preparing for mediation and structured negotiation: Where settlement discussions take place through solicitor negotiation or mediation, we help to prepare your case by organising financial disclosure, clarifying your objectives, identifying areas of potential compromise, and developing a clear strategy before any discussions begin.
- Preparing for formal court proceedings where necessary: If an agreement cannot be reached, we prepare your case thoroughly for court. This involves structuring documentation, analysing financial evidence, instructing experts where appropriate, and presenting clear, legally grounded arguments to protect your position.
At Breakthrough Solicitors, we focus on proactive preparation rather than reactive defence. By identifying potential areas of dispute early, we help protect your financial position and parental role, while aiming to resolve matters efficiently wherever possible.
Your rights and options in a civil partnership — and how our solicitors support you
When a marriage or civil partnership comes to an end, the legal steps to move forward are designed to provide clarity and security for both parties. Whether you are seeking a divorce to end a marriage or a dissolution to end a civil partnership, the legal principles regarding your rights, finances, and children are effectively identical.
If you are navigating a divorce or the dissolution of a civil partnership, you may be entitled to:
- Financial protection and fair division of assets: The law aims for a fair distribution of all assets acquired during your relationship. This includes the family home, both parties’ savings and investments. We provide clear guidance to help you accurately identify “partnership assets”, helping you reach a settlement that provides a stable foundation for your independent future.
- Maintenance and pension sharing: You may be entitled to ongoing financial support (spousal or partner maintenance) if there is a significant disparity in your incomes. Additionally, pensions are often one of the most significant assets in a relationship; we advise on pension sharing orders to ensure that retirement provisions are divided equitably, regardless of whose name the pensions are in.
- Business interests and professional continuity: If you or your partner own a business or hold professional stakes, these are considered part of the “financial pot.” Our goal is to protect the viability of the business while ensuring its value is fairly accounted for in your settlement, often through offsetting other assets to avoid disrupting the company’s operations.
- Children and parenting arrangements: The welfare of your children is the court’s primary concern. We can help you navigate parental responsibility to try to ensure both partners have a legal say in your children’s future, including education and health. Our goal is to create stable “child arrangement orders” that focus on your children’s wellbeing and maintain their meaningful relationships with both parents.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): Court proceedings are not always necessary. Mediation and collaborative law offer a way to reach agreements in a more private, less adversarial environment. These processes give you more control over the outcome and can be significantly faster and more cost-effective than traditional litigation.
- Legal representation and court orders: If an agreement cannot be reached through negotiation, we provide robust representation in court. From applying for a conditional order (the first stage of dissolution/divorce) to securing a final order and a binding consent order for your finances, we help to protect your rights at every procedural step.
Breakthrough Solicitors offers expert support tailored to your unique circumstances. We help you cut through the legal jargon to focus on what matters: a fair resolution and a clear path forward.
Speak to a civil partnership dissolution solicitor today!
Owner of Breakthrough Solicitors
Solicitor & Mediator
Father of Two
How to start your civil partnership dissolution with Breakthrough Solicitors
Navigating the end of a civil partnership can feel overwhelming, but having clear, professional guidance from the outset helps protect your rights and keep the process manageable. At Breakthrough Solicitors, we provide the practical advice and empathetic support you need to evaluate your circumstances and take confident steps toward your future.
If you are ready to begin the dissolution process, our structured approach aims to ensure that no detail is overlooked:
- Free Initial Consultation: Reach out by phone, email, or via our online enquiry form to discuss your situation with an experienced family law specialist. Breakthrough Solicitors offer an initial consultation where we can clarify the legal process of dissolution and talk about the background of your situation.
- Fixed fee meeting: After your initial free consultation, we offer a one-hour fixed-fee meeting with Akash Soni and a member of his experienced team of solicitors for £295 (incl VAT). It is an affordable way of getting legal advice and a first set of answers. Please note that, before your meeting, we’ll ask you to provide relevant documents to complete mandatory KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) checks.
- Next formal steps: If you’d like Breakthrough Solicitors to represent you after the fixed fee meeting, you’ll need sign the client care letter to formally instruct us and put a retainer on the account (usually £500 but this depends on how much work is required on the case). Once the retainer is received, one of our solicitors will begin working on your case.
- Take action – After agreeing on a strategy, we support you throughout the process. This includes filing the dissolution application, communicating with your partner or their legal representative, and negotiating financial or parenting arrangements. We keep you informed at every stage, helping you achieve a clean break and a clearer path forward.
Flexible Support That Fits Around You
✓ Remote or Face-to-Face Meetings
We offer meetings remotely via video call, or in person at our offices in Amersham, Beaconsfield, Berkhamsted, Chesham, Chorleywood, Gerrards Cross, Harrow, High Wycombe, Mayfair, Milton Keynes, Rickmansworth or The Chalfonts — whichever suits you best.
✓ Advice In Multiple Languages
Support available in English, Cantonese, Hindi, and Gujarati.
✓ Extended Working Hours
Speak to us 7 days a week, including evenings and weekends.
Speak to a civil partnership dissolution solicitor today!
Owner of Breakthrough Solicitors
Solicitor & Mediator
Father of Two
Frequently Asked Questions About Civil Partnership Dissolutions
What is a civil partnership?
A civil partnership is a legally recognised relationship between two people of the same or opposite sex, providing rights and responsibilities similar to those of marriage.
It provides legal protections around finances, property, pensions, and next‑of‑kin status, and can only be ended through dissolution, legal separation, or annulment.
Is there a law governing civil partnerships?
Yes. Civil partnerships in England and Wales are governed principally by the Civil Partnership Act 2004. Since 2019, both same‑sex and opposite‑sex couples can enter into a civil partnership under this legislation.
The Act sets out the legal rights and responsibilities of civil partners, including how finances, property, pensions, inheritance, and parental responsibility are treated. It also outlines the formal processes for ending a civil partnership through dissolution, legal separation, or annulment.
How does a civil partnership differ from a divorce?
A civil partnership is a legally recognised relationship similar to marriage, giving partners rights to claim over finances, property, pensions, inheritance, and parental responsibility. The main differences are:
- Name and formalities: Civil partnerships are not called “marriage” and have slightly different legal ceremonies and registration requirements.
- Historical context: Civil partnerships were introduced for same-sex couples in 2005 and became available to opposite-sex couples in 2019, whereas marriage has existed for centuries.
- Terminology: Legal documents, forms, and references use “civil partner” rather than “spouse.”
Otherwise, the rights, responsibilities, and legal protections for civil partners and married couples in England and Wales are very similar, including how finances, pensions, and child arrangements are handled when the relationship ends.
What are the grounds for civil partnership dissolution?
In England and Wales, a civil partnership can be dissolved on the single ground that it has irretrievably broken down. Under the current no‑fault system, you do not need to prove separation, fault, or wrongdoing. A simple statement that the partnership has broken down is enough for the court to accept.
The process includes a mandatory 20‑week reflection period before you can apply for the Final Order, which legally ends the civil partnership.
Breakthrough Solicitors can guide you through each stage of the dissolution process, helping you understand the timeline, prepare the application correctly, and address any financial or child‑related arrangements that need to be formalised.
How do you end a civil partnership?
A civil partnership in England and Wales is ended through a legal process called dissolution. This is similar to divorce and requires applying to the court.
The main steps include:
- Filing the application – One or both partners submit a formal application for dissolution to the court. Please note there is a standard court filing fee (currently £612) required to initiate the process.
- Acknowledgement and response – The other partner confirms receipt of the application. Under the no‑fault system, they cannot oppose the dissolution except on limited procedural grounds.
- Reflection period – A mandatory 20‑week period allows both partners time to reflect and progress financial or child‑related discussions.
- Financial and child arrangements – Couples are encouraged to agree on property, finances, and any children’s arrangements, either through negotiation, mediation, or collaborative discussions.
- Final Order – Once the mandatory time periods have passed and the paperwork is in order and any financial or child arrangements are being addressed separately where needed, a Final Order is granted, legally ending the partnership.
Our civil partnership lawyers guide clients through every stage of the process, providing practical advice, helping prepare documentation, and supporting negotiations or court proceedings where required.
How long does a civil partnership dissolution take?
The timeframe for ending a civil partnership varies depending on the complexity of the case.
- Minimum timeframe: The legal process takes a minimum of 26 weeks, due to the mandatory 20-week statutory “cooling-off” period (provided both partners agree and there are no disputes).
- Complex cases: Where there are disputes over finances, property, pensions, or arrangements for children, the process can take significantly longer — sometimes a year or more.
- High-value or business-related cases: Dissolutions involving substantial assets, business interests, or international considerations often take longer due to valuations, negotiations, and legal complexities.
Breakthrough Solicitors guides you through each stage, helping you prepare the necessary documentation, manage negotiations, and, if required, provide representation in court to achieve a timely and fair resolution.
Do I need a solicitor to dissolve a civil partnership?
You are not legally required to use a solicitor to end a civil partnership, but having expert guidance can make the process much smoother, particularly when finances, property, pensions, or children are involved.
Our civil partnership dissolution solicitors can help you:
- Prepare and submit the required legal documents correctly.
- Help ensure that all assets, pensions, and financial interests are properly identified and valued.
- Negotiate agreements with your civil partner to reduce disputes.
- Advise on arrangements for children and parental responsibility.
- Represent you in court if formal proceedings become necessary.
At Breakthrough Solicitors, our experienced solicitors provide clear, practical advice and support, helping you navigate the dissolution process efficiently while protecting your interests and legal rights.
How are assets divided in a civil partnership dissolution?
In England and Wales, civil partners have equal legal rights when it comes to financial settlements. While the law doesn’t automatically guarantee a 50/50 split, courts generally start with the “sharing principle,” particularly for medium- to long-term partnerships.
Assets that are typically considered include:
- The family home and any other property
- Savings, investments, and bank accounts
- Pensions
- Vehicles and valuable personal possessions
- Business interests and shares
Breakthrough Solicitors provides practical guidance to ensure all assets are identified, valued, and considered as part of a fair settlement. We can also advise on how to protect non-matrimonial assets, pre-existing wealth, or inherited property.
Can a civil partnership be dissolved if one partner does not agree?
Yes. Under the current no‑fault system in England and Wales, a civil partnership can be dissolved even if one partner does not consent. There is only one legal ground: the partnership has irretrievably broken down. A simple statement to this effect is treated as conclusive by the court, and the other partner cannot oppose the dissolution except on very limited procedural grounds.
The process includes a mandatory 20‑week reflection period before the Final Order can be granted, giving both partners time to address financial or child‑related arrangements alongside the dissolution.
What’s the difference between separation and civil partnership dissolution?
Separation occurs when partners live apart but remain legally bound by their civil partnership. It allows time to reassess the relationship, organise finances, and make arrangements for children, but it does not legally end the partnership.
Dissolution, on the other hand, is the formal legal process that ends a civil partnership under the Civil Partnership Act 2004. Once the Final Order is granted, both partners are free to enter into another civil partnership or marry.
Can I marry after dissolving a civil partnership?
Yes. Once a civil partnership has been legally dissolved and the Final Order is granted, both parties are free to marry or enter into a new civil partnership. Breakthrough Solicitors can guide you through the process and explain any implications for financial arrangements, children, or property before moving forward.
How does the free initial consultation work?
Breakthrough Solicitors offers a free initial consultation to discuss your family law needs.
The free initial consultation lasts up to 30 mins and is completely free.
It allows you to speak with an expert family lawyer, learn about your options, and ask any questions you may have.
What is the fixed fee meeting?
Breakthrough Solicitors can offer a fixed fee meeting of up to one-hour.
The fixed fee meeting is the second step of our process (following the free initial consultation).
It involves one of our highly experienced solicitors advising you on the law, your available options and proposing a potential legal strategy.
It costs £295 (incl VAT) and is an affordable way of getting legal advice and a first set of answers.
Please note that, before your meeting, we’ll ask you to provide relevant documents to complete mandatory KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) checks.
What happens after the fixed fee meeting?
The fixed fee meeting is the second stage in the process (after the free initial consultation).
If you’d like Breakthrough Solicitors to represent you after the fixed fee meeting, the process will be as follows:
- You will need to sign the client care letter to formally instruct us
- You’ll need to put a retainer on the account (usually £500 but this depends on how much work is required on the case)
- Once the retainer is received, Breakthrough Solicitors will begin working on your case
Note that each situation is different (going to court is more expensive than just negotiating) and this will be outlined in the client care letter.