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# FEATURE: Have we fallen out of love with civil partnerships?
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/feature-have-we-fallen-out-of-love-with-civil-partnerships/
- Published: 2022-07-16T08:00:44.000Z
- Updated: 2022-07-15T13:38:15.000Z
- Description: Only 785 civil partnerships were formed between same-sex couples in England and Wales in 2020, compared with 6,925 marriages
- Author: Contributor
- Tags: Features & Longread, News, Brighton & Hove, LGBTQ, love, marriage, queer

In 2020, the number of **civil partnerships** in England and Wales saw its **biggest yearly drop** (21%) in 17 years.

Since the introduction of **same-sex marriage** in the UK in March 2014, more couples are deciding to tie the knot with vows instead – with **6,925 marriages** recorded in 2018\. Additionally, a further **803 same-sex couples** converted their civil partnership into a marriage.

For heterosexual couples, meanwhile, marriage rates have fallen for the third year in a row, according to the latest ONS data. They’ve reached a historic low of **20.1 marriages per 1,000** unmarried men and **18.6 marriages per 1,000** unmarried women.

It’s expected that the number of weddings – for all couples – will experience a post-pandemic boost in the coming months. In anticipation of this, family law experts are highlighting the importance of pre-nups before converting civil partnerships to marriage, building an extra layer of security into the commitment.

Civil partnership specialists, **Rayden Solicitors**, gathered the most recent ONS data to uncover trends and find the areas in the UK that still favour civil partnerships.

### Where civil partnerships are still popular

Many same-sex couples still opting for civil partnerships are doing it in London. With **264 civil partnerships** between same-sex couples registered there in 2020, it’s the most favoured place in the UK for these same-sex ceremonies.

The number in the capital was nearly eight times more than in the next most popular location – **Brighton** (34). Next on the list come Greater **Manchester** (26), **Kent** (20) and **Devon** (18).

For heterosexual couples, London still proved to be a popular destination with **1,579 civil partnerships** taking place in 2020, followed by **Hertfordshire** (217), **Devon** (215) and **Hampshire** (207).

**Julian Bremner**, Partner and Financial Arbitrator at Rayden Solicitors, said: “On paper, civil partnerships and marriage are almost identical. In terms of tax, pensions, inheritance and next-of-kin issues, they’re the same.

“A small difference is that you end a civil partnership with a dissolution rather than a divorce, and adultery cannot be used as evidence. And, of course, there’s no religious aspect to civil partnership.

“This religious facet could be why some same-sex couples are now opting for marriage instead, or perhaps they want to exchange vows? For others, it could be important, symbolically, that they can now marry, just as a straight couple always could.

“Whatever a couple’s particular reasons for choosing – or choosing not to – marry, their ability to choose is the most important thing.”