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House of Commons

Session 2002 - 03 Internet Publications Other Bills before Parliament

Civil Partnership Bill [HL]

Civil Partnership Bill [HL]
The Bill is divided into two volumes. Volume I contains the Clauses.
Volume II contains the Schedules to the Bill.
EXPLANATORY NOTES
Explanatory notes to the Bill, prepared by the Department of Trade and Industry, are
published separately as Bill 132—EN.
EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Ms Secretary Hewitt has made the following statement under section 19(1)(b) of the
Human Rights Act 1998:
I am unable (but only because of clause 2, Schedule 1 and related provisions) to make
a statement that, in my view, the provisions of the Civil Partnership Bill [HL] are
compatible with the Convention rights.
However, the Government nevertheless wishes the House to proceed with the Civil
Partnership Bill [HL].
Bill 132 53/3
Civil Partnership Bill [HL]
The Bill is divided into two Volumes. Volume I contains the Clauses. Volume II
contains the Schedules to the Bill.
Contents
Part 1
Introduction
1    Civil partnership
2    Categories of civil partners other than same sex couples
Part 2
Civil partnership: England and Wales
Chapter 1
Registration
Formation, eligibility and parental etc. consent
3    Formation of civil partnership by registration
4    Eligibility
5    Parental etc. consent where proposed civil partner under 18
Registration procedure: general
6    Types of pre-registration procedure
7    Place of registration
8    The civil partnership document
The standard procedure
9    Notice of proposed civil partnership and declaration
10    Power to require evidence of name etc.
11    Proposed civil partnership to be publicised
12    Meaning of “the waiting period”
13    Power to shorten the waiting period
14    Objection to proposed civil partnership
15    Issue of civil partnership schedule
16    Appeal against refusal to issue civil partnership schedule
17    Frivolous objections and representations: liability for costs etc.
Bill 132 53/3
Civil Partnership Bill [HL] iv
18    Period during which registration may take place
The procedures for house-bound and detained persons
19    House-bound persons
20    Detained persons
Modified procedures for certain non-residents
21    Modified procedures for certain non-residents
The special procedure
22    Notice of proposed civil partnership
23    Evidence to be produced
24    Application to be reported to Registrar General
25    Objection to issue of Registrar General’s licence
26    Issue of Registrar General’s licence
27    Frivolous objections: liability for costs
28    Period during which registration may take place
Supplementary
29    Registration authorities
30    Civil partnership registrars
31    The Registrar General and the register
32    Offences relating to civil partnership schedule
33    Offences relating to Registrar General’s licence
34    Offences relating to the recording of civil partnerships
35    Fees
36    Regulations and orders
Chapter 2
Dissolution, nullity and other proceedings
Introduction
37    Powers to make orders and effect of orders
38    The period before conditional orders may be made final
39    Intervention of the Queen’s Proctor
40    Proceedings before order has been made final
41    Time bar on applications for dissolution orders
42    Attempts at reconciliation of civil partners
43    Consideration by the court of certain agreements or arrangements
Dissolution of civil partnership
44    Dissolution of civil partnership which has broken down irretrievably
45    Supplemental provisions as to facts raising presumption of breakdown
46    Dissolution order not precluded by previous separation order etc.
47    Refusal of dissolution in 5 year separation cases on grounds of grave hardship
48    Proceedings before order made final: protection for respondent in separation
cases
Civil Partnership Bill [HL] v
Nullity
49    Grounds on which civil partnership is void
50    Grounds on which civil partnership is voidable
51    Bars to relief where civil partnership is voidable
52    Proof of certain matters not necessary to validity of civil partnership
53    Power to validate civil partnership
54    Validity of civil partnerships registered outside England and Wales
Presumption of death orders
55    Presumption of death orders
Separation orders
56    Separation orders
57    Effect of separation order
Declarations
58    Declarations
59    General provisions as to making and effect of declarations
60    The Attorney General and proceedings for declarations
61    Supplementary provisions as to declarations
General provisions
62    Relief for respondent in dissolution proceedings
63    Restrictions on making of orders affecting children
64    Parties to proceedings under this Chapter
Chapter 3
Property and financial arrangements
65    Contribution by civil partner to property improvement
66    Disputes between civil partners about property
67    Applications under section 66 where property not in possession etc.
68    Actions in tort between civil partners
69    Assurance policy by civil partner for benefit of other civil partner etc.
70    Wills, administration of estates and family provision
71    Financial relief for civil partners and children of family
Chapter 4
Civil partnership agreements
72    Civil partnership agreements unenforceable
73    Property where civil partnership agreement is terminated
Chapter 5
Children
74    Parental responsibility, children of the family and relatives
Civil Partnership Bill [HL] vi
75    Guardianship
76    Entitlement to apply for residence or contact order
77    Financial provision for children
78    Adoption
Chapter 6
Miscellaneous
79    False statements etc. with reference to civil partnerships
80    Housing and tenancies
81    Family homes and domestic violence
82    Fatal accidents claims
Part 3
Civil partnership: Scotland
Chapter 1
Formation and eligibility
83    Formation of civil partnership by registration
84    Eligibility
Chapter 2
Registration
85    Appointment of authorised registrars
86    Notice of proposed civil partnership
87    Civil partnership notice book
88    Publicisation
89    Early registration
90    Objections to registration
91    Place of registration
92    The civil partnership schedule
93    Further provision as to registration
94    Civil partnership with former spouse
95    Certificates of no impediment for Part 2 purposes
96    Application of certain sections of 1965 Act to civil partnership register
97    Correction of errors in civil partnership register
98    Offences
Chapter 3
Occupancy rights and tenancies
Occupancy rights
99    Occupancy rights
100    Occupancy: subsidiary and consequential rights
101    Regulation by court of rights of occupancy of family home
102    Exclusion orders
Civil Partnership Bill [HL] vii
103    Duration of orders under sections 101 and 102
104    Continued exercise of occupancy rights after dealing
105    Dispensation with civil partner’s consent to dealing
106    Interests of heritable creditors
107    Provisions where both civil partners have title
108    Rights of occupancy in relation to division and sale
109    Adjudication
Transfer of tenancy
110    Transfer of tenancy
Chapter 4
Interdicts
111    Civil partners: competency of interdict
112    Attachment of powers of arrest to relevant interdicts
113    Police powers after arrest
114    Procedure after arrest
Chapter 5
Dissolution, separation and nullity
Dissolution and separation
115    Dissolution
116    Encouragement of reconciliation
117    Effect of resumption of cohabitation
118    Dissolution following on decree of separation
119    Registration of dissolution of civil partnership
Nullity
120    Nullity
121    Validity of civil partnerships registered outside Scotland
Financial provision after overseas proceedings
122    Financial provision after overseas dissolution or annulment
Chapter 6
Miscellaneous and interpretation
Miscellaneous
123    Regulations
124    Attachment
125    Promise or agreement to enter into civil partnership
126    Lord Advocate as party to action for nullity or dissolution of civil partnership
127    Civil partner of accused a competent witness
128    Assurance policies
Civil Partnership Bill [HL] viii
129    Council Tax: liability of civil partners
130    General provisions as to fees
Interpretation
131    Interpretation of this Part
132    The expression “relative” in the 1965 Act
Part 4
Civil partnership: Northern Ireland
Chapter 1
Registration
Formation and eligibility
133    Formation of civil partnership by registration
134    Eligibility
Preliminaries to registration
135    Notice of proposed civil partnership
136    Civil partnership notice book and list of intended civil partnerships
137    Power to require evidence of name etc.
138    Objections
139    Civil partnership schedule
140    Place of registration
Young persons
141    Parental etc. consent where proposed civil partner under 18
Supplementary
142    Validity of registration
143    Corrections and cancellations
144    Interpreters
145    Detained persons
146    Certificates of no impediment for Part 2 purposes
147    Registration districts and registration authorities
148    Registrars and other staff
149    Records and documents to be sent to Registrar General
150    Annual report
151    Searches
152    Proof of civil partnership for purposes of certain statutory provisions
153    Fees
154    Offences
155    Regulations
156    Interpretation

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