# Explain British Civil Unions.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-british-civil-unions/301232>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 26, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-british-civil-unions/301232 "2005-04-26T19:56:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-british-civil-unions/301232/1 "2005-04-26T19:56:46Z")

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The recent reports that Sir Elton is [getting hitched](http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/eo/20050425/en_music_eo/16407_1114544928) brought up some questions on the UK’s new civl partnership law. What are the major differnces between a civil partnership and a marriage (other than terminology)? Do civil partners get the same rights and benifits as married couples, or are some things still reserved for married couples? What about foreign same-sex unions; is there any provision for their recognition?

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**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-british-civil-unions/301232/2 "2005-04-26T21:11:54Z")

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> **[Civil Partnership Act 2004](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Partnership_Act_2004)**
>
> The Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c 33) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, introduced by the Labour government, which grants civil partnerships in the United Kingdom with rights and responsibilities very similar to civil marriage. Initially the Act permitted only same-sex couples to form civil partnerships. This was altered to include opposite-sex couples in 2019. Civil partners are entitled to the same property rights as married couples, the same exemption as married couples soci...

It’s hard to see it as ‘marriage’ of any kind - it basically just ensures that basic rights over things such as inheritance are secured. And no, I don’t think there’s any recognition of foreign unions.