Ending a Civil Partnership in England and Wales | LegalDocuments.co.uk

Overview

Dissolution is the legal ending of a civil partnership in England and Wales. It is the equivalent of divorce for married couples, and since April 2022 it operates on a no-fault basis. That means the only ground you need to show is that the relationship has broken down irretrievably, and you do not have to prove fault, blame, or any period of separation.

One partner can apply on their own, or the couple can apply jointly if they agree the partnership should end. The older grounds you may still see mentioned on some websites, such as unreasonable behaviour or desertion, no longer form part of the process.

The application itself is handled through HM Courts and Tribunals Service, usually online. A court fee applies, and you can check gov.uk for the current amount. The process produces two separate orders: a conditional order, which signals the court is satisfied the partnership can be dissolved, and a final order, which actually brings it to an end.

Dissolution deals only with the legal status of the relationship. Financial arrangements and anything relating to children are handled separately, even though people often sort them out in parallel.

Key steps

1. Check you are eligible to apply. You generally need to have been in the civil partnership for at least a year, and the partnership must be recognised under the law of England and Wales. At least one of you must usually have a sufficient connection to England or Wales, such as being domiciled or habitually resident here. If there is any doubt about jurisdiction, it is worth clarifying this early.
2. Decide whether to apply solely or jointly. You can apply on your own or together with your partner. A joint application can feel more cooperative and is often used where both parties agree the partnership is over, while a sole application may be more appropriate where communication has broken down or where one person simply wants to get on with it. Either route leads to the same legal outcome.
3. Complete and submit the application. Most applications are made online through the HMCTS portal, though a paper form is still available. You will need details of both partners, the date and place of registration, and a statement confirming the relationship has broken down irretrievably. A court fee is payable, and fee remission may be available if you are on a low income or certain benefits.
4. Wait for the conditional order. Once the application has been acknowledged by the respondent (in a sole application) or confirmed by both parties (in a joint one), there is a minimum twenty-week reflection period before you can apply for the conditional order. The court reviews the paperwork and, if satisfied, issues the conditional order confirming there is no reason the partnership should not be dissolved.
5. Apply for the final order. At least six weeks and one day after the conditional order, the applicant can apply for the final order, which legally ends the civil partnership. Many people deliberately wait before taking this final step so that financial matters, including pensions and property, can be sorted out first, since some rights change once the partnership is formally over.

Common questions