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House of Lords

Session 2003 - 04 Internet Publications Other Bills before Parliament

Civil Partnership Bill [HL]

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

© Parliamentary copyright 2004	Revised 31 March 2004