On the 23rd December 2010, Minister for Justice & Law Reform Dermot Ahern signed the commencement orders for the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights of Cohabitants Act 2010.  From the 1st January 2011, same sex couples can apply to the Civil Registrar to enter in to Civil Partnership.

Changes to introduce Civil Partnership to the Tax & Social Welfare codes also come into effect from the 1st January 2011.  Also the Act brings sweeping changes to Family Law & Succession Law as Civil Partners are now put on the same footing as spouces in relation to such matters.

A guide to the procedures for entering into a Civil Partnership are available from the General Register Office.  For further information go to the GRO website.

The Act also introduces certain rights and protections for opposite sex cohabitants. Cohabitants would typically consist of a couple who previously described themselves as "common law husband and wife", though, in law, there is no such thing as common law husband and wife.  There are over 100,000 couples cohabiting in Ireland today. The introduction of the Act brings changes to, amongst other things, Family Law and Succession Law. 

Contact us if you need any more information.