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Civil Partnership Dissolution

Clear legal advice when ending a civil partnership

Solicitors for ending a civil partnership

It’s vital that couples considering ending a civil partnership have the help of experienced legal professionals. We understand the clear distinctions of these legal agreements and how they can affect a relationship. We aim to take the stress out of the legal side of the breakup.

We offer thorough, knowledgeable and sympathetic legal advice and can help you and your partner bring your relationship to a legal end.

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Civil Partnership Dissolution

Who is eligible to dissolve a civil partnership?

You can end or dissolve your civil partnership if you’ve been in the partnership for over a year and you can confirm that the partnership has irretrievably broken down. You will have to apply to a court to end it, which you can either do online or by post and this can be done as a joint application with your partner or on your own.

If you do not want to end the civil partnership completely you can get a legal separation which can be applied for during the first year of your civil partnership.

 

Rothera Bray Family Law Team

How much does it cost to get a civil partnership dissolution?

There is a court fee of £612 to pay. In some cases you may be able to get help with the cost depending on your circumstances.

If you’re making a joint application with your partner then you would both need to qualify for help with fees – otherwise one of you will need to pay the full fee.

There might be other costs to consider such as solicitors’ fees if you decide to instruct a law firm.

What legal rights do civil partners have?

Civil partners have the same financial legal rights as married couples in terms of property and assets, and inheritance tax. Civil partners can also apply for parental responsibility of their partner’s children.

Ending a civil partnership - legal advice from family law solicitors

How do I work out child arrangements when dissolving a civil partnership?

Those in a civil partnership are allowed to adopt and civil partners can also take on parental responsibilities as a step-parent under the Children Act 1989.

An application for the dissolution of a civil partnership does not include child arrangements, so if you and your partner cannot agree on childcare arrangements then you will need to apply for a Child Arrangements Order so the Court can decide who they will live with and spend time with that will be in their best interests.

Find out more about this on our Children and Divorce page – the process is usually the same as if you you were married then divorced.

Children and divorce

How long does it take to get a civil partnership dissolution?

It usually takes at least six months to dissolve an uncontested civil partnership, but it can take longer if your partner contests ending the relationship.

In some cases it is recommended to get a Financial Settlement Order approved before ending the civil partnership. These orders help to protect your finances by ensuring that your former partner can’t make a claim for a share of your assets in the future.

Why use Rothera Bray for civil partnership dissolution?

While civil partnerships differ to marriages, many of the same issues should be taken into account when they begin or come to an end. Our family lawyers can help you tackle the issues that can arise from a civil partnership dissolution:

  • Financial issues
  • Splitting property
  • Pension issues
  • Issues relating to children

Further information – like costs, separation agreements, process and timing – can be found on our divorce page.

Divorce and separation
The end of a relationship is always difficult – but we’ll ensure that the legal side of things are handled smoothly
David Berridge
David Berridge

Contact our Divorce and Family Law team

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Efficient service, all matters were dealt with in a timely matter.
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August 28, 2026
Sarah Gill who handled my case in Market Harborough was very professional and had extensive knowledge of my rights. The timescales and costs were also very accurate and response time to any queries was very good. I received the outcome that I wanted to. I would recommend the company to anyone for legal help, support and peace of mind with any matter.
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July 29, 2026
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July 14, 2026
Cannot speak highly of the team at Rothera Bray Beeston, who helped me along to get my issue resolved. Special mention goes to Jack English, who showed incredible resilience, along with a large dose of patience whilst guiding me along the way, so that the correct result was obtained. Would have no hesitation in recommending this practice for whatever legal service you require. Thank you once more!
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July 13, 2026
We cannot thank Rothera Bray enough for the outstanding support they provided throughout our Special Guardianship Order (SGO) process. Thanks to their expertise, professionalism, and dedication, we achieved a successful outcome, and we genuinely couldn't have done it without them. A special thank you goes to Ann-Marie and Emily, who guided us every step of the way. They were always there to offer advice, reassurance, and practical support whenever we needed it. No question was ever too much trouble, and they responded to any concerns or issues incredibly quickly, giving us confidence throughout what was a very challenging and emotional process. Their professionalism, knowledge, and attention to detail are of the highest standard. They made us feel supported from start to finish and always had our best interests at heart. We are truly grateful for everything they have done for our family and would wholeheartedly recommend Rothera Bray to anyone in need of exceptional legal representation. Thank you again, Ann-Marie and Emily, for making such a positive difference to our lives.
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June 8, 2026
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I’d like to say a massive thank you for all of Emily Sherwood and the teams help at Rothera Bay. Response to enquiries has been timely and everything discussed was dealt with empathy and professionalism. I was guided through the process and fees were discussed transparently, I’m very grateful for all the help received so far.
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May 22, 2026
I used Rebecca's services via Rothera Bray Solicitors to deal with the financial side to a divorce. I had an initial face to face appointment to talk through everything with Rebecca and this made me feel at ease and felt that Rebecca was the right person to help me. Rebecca has kept me highly informed at all stages throughout and has also given lots of great advice and has helped me a lot with getting things sorted. I am really happy with the service that I received and Rebecca was so friendly, kind, understanding and very helpful. I would 100% recommend to anyone who is requiring the help during a divorce.
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May 22, 2026
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