Legal consequences of marriage and civil partnership in England and Wales
When two grown-ups really love each other and want to share their lives together, they can choose to get married or have a civil partnership. Both of these mean that they promise to take care of each other and be together forever.
When they do this in England and Wales, they get some special legal powers and rights.
First, they become each other's "next of kin." That means that if one of them gets sick or hurt or needs help, the other one is allowed to take care of them and make important decisions for them.
They also get to share their money and property. If they buy a house, for example, it belongs to both of them equally.
If one of them dies, the other one inherits everything automatically. They don't have to go to court to argue about who gets what.
Finally, married couples and civil partners can get some benefits from the government, like tax breaks, and they can adopt children together.
But wait! There are some rules and responsibilities that come with all of these legal powers, too.
For example, if they decide to split up, they have to follow certain rules to divide everything fairly. And they might have to pay some money to each other if one of them has been financially dependent on the other.
Also, if they have kids, they have to take care of them together, even if they're not living together anymore. They have to share the responsibility for making decisions about the kids and making sure they have what they need.
So getting married or having a civil partnership is a big step, but it can give you some really special and important rights, as well as some important responsibilities.
When they do this in England and Wales, they get some special legal powers and rights.
First, they become each other's "next of kin." That means that if one of them gets sick or hurt or needs help, the other one is allowed to take care of them and make important decisions for them.
They also get to share their money and property. If they buy a house, for example, it belongs to both of them equally.
If one of them dies, the other one inherits everything automatically. They don't have to go to court to argue about who gets what.
Finally, married couples and civil partners can get some benefits from the government, like tax breaks, and they can adopt children together.
But wait! There are some rules and responsibilities that come with all of these legal powers, too.
For example, if they decide to split up, they have to follow certain rules to divide everything fairly. And they might have to pay some money to each other if one of them has been financially dependent on the other.
Also, if they have kids, they have to take care of them together, even if they're not living together anymore. They have to share the responsibility for making decisions about the kids and making sure they have what they need.
So getting married or having a civil partnership is a big step, but it can give you some really special and important rights, as well as some important responsibilities.