Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Amendment) (Sibling Couples) Bill (HL Bill 25)

1 Categories of civil partners to include sibling couples

(1) The Civil Partnership Act 2004 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 1(1) (civil partnership), after “relationship” insert “between two
people considered to be a sibling couple or”.

(3) 5After section 1, insert—

“1A Sibling couples

(1) Two persons who are considered to be siblings, both of whom are aged
over thirty years, are eligible to register as civil partners if they have
lived together for a continuous period of twelve years immediately
10prior to the date of registration.

(2) In this Act, “sibling” means a brother, sister, half-brother or half-sister.”

(4) In section 3 (eligibility), at the beginning of subsection (1)(a) and of subsection
(1)(d) insert “subject to section 1A (sibling couples),”.

(5) At the end of section 36(2)(g) (regulations and orders), insert—

(h) 15with respect to determining whether two people have lived together for
the period of twelve years specified in section 1A (sibling couples).”.

(6) In section 86 (eligibility), at the beginning of subsection (1)(a) and of subsection
(1)(b) insert “subject to section 1A (sibling couples),”.

(7) In section 126 (regulations), after subsection (2) insert—

“(2A) 20Regulations made under this section may set out the criteria for
determining whether two people have lived together for the period of
12 years specified in section 1A (sibling couples).”.

(8) In section 138 (eligibility), at the beginning of subsection (1)(a) and of
subsection (1)(d), insert “subject to section 1A (sibling couples),”.

(9) In section 159(1) (regulations), at the end insert “including with respect to
determining whether two people have lived together for the period of twelve
5years specified in section 1A (sibling couples).”

2 Extent, commencement and short title

(1) This Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

(2) This Act comes into force at the end of the period of two months beginning
with the day on which this Act is passed.

(3) 10This Act may be cited as the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Amendment) (Sibling
Couples) Act 2017.