If a couple are married then there is a bank of legislation which governs their relationship including the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989, the Family Law Act 1995 and the Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 if that relationship breaks down.
If a same sex couple register their relationship under the provisions of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act of 2010 (which came into law on 01 January 2011) then their relationship is protected under the rights specified in Parts 1 to 14 (inclusive) of that Act.
This Act is an Act of two parts.
The law in relation to cohabiting couples (either heterosexual or same sex) who are not married to each other or are not a “Civil Partnership” is contained largely in Part 15 of this Act. For this law to apply to your relationship then you must qualify as a cohabitant under the terms of the Act.
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