Monday, December 05, 2005
Same-sex Partnerships Become UK Law!
5th December 2005 - A great day for the UK's gay and lesbian community, as from today, same-sex couples can register their intent to form a Civil Partnership. Ceremonies can take place from 21 December 2005.
This long awaited legislation gives same-sex couples almost the same rights as heterosexual married couples. However, with these important rights, come important obligations and couples should not enter a Civil Partnership, lightly.
For more information see www.civil-partnership.info.
This long awaited legislation gives same-sex couples almost the same rights as heterosexual married couples. However, with these important rights, come important obligations and couples should not enter a Civil Partnership, lightly.
For more information see www.civil-partnership.info.
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Marriage Matters - A Review Of Civil Partnerships
Maggie Fleming, of Isis Financial Planners, reviews Civil Partnerships in Bent magazine. Read her Civil Partnership review.
Civil Partnerships and older people
The UK Government's Women & Equality Unit have issued advice and guidlelines on Civil Partnerships specifically aimed at older people. The advice covers:
SPECIAL ARRANGMENTS FOR REGISTERING A CIVIL PARTNERSHIP
- In event of a serious illness
- When a person is housebound/cannot be moved
- Capacity to register
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITES
- Taxation
- Pensions
- Social security, tax credits
- Tenancy rights
- People in care homes
- Next of kin
IF A CIVIL PARTNER DIES
- Death registration
- Wills
- Intestacy
- Family provision
- Life assurance
For more information see the gayfinance Civil Partnership web pages.
Friday, October 28, 2005
Civil Partnership Ceremony
In association with the "Association of Registration and Celebratory Services" (ARCS) the Women and Equality Unit, responsible for the UK's Civil Partnership Act, has published a "model" Civil Partnership Ceremony.
For more information on this Civil Partnership Ceremony, see www.civil-partnerships.info .
For more information on this Civil Partnership Ceremony, see www.civil-partnerships.info .
Civil Partnership and Council Tax
The Women & Equality Unit of the UK Government has issued new guidance on how the Civil Partnership Act will affect same-sex couples for Council Tax. These rules will apply to registered Civil Partners AND unregistered same-sex couples living together as though they were Civil Partners.
For more information see http://www.civil-partnerships.info.
For more information see http://www.civil-partnerships.info.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Civil Partnership - does it end financial discrimination of gay men?
Until the advent of the Civil Partnership Act there didn't seem any hope of ending the raft of discrimination against the gay community and same-sex couples with regards to various aspects of financial arrangements.
Now, the rules on inheritance tax, capital gains tax, pensions, etc. are nearing equality with heterosexuals.
Maggie Fleming, independent financial adviser with Isis Financial Planners, has written two articles for gay magazine, Fyne Times. These articles can be accessed as follows:
- September 2005 - A review of financial discrimination of gay men and lesbians
- October 2005 - A look at how Civil Partnerships will help to eradicate most of the financial discrimination
Civil Partnership Publicity Campaign
On 14 September 2005, the UK Government launched a publicity campaign to raise awareness of the forthcoming civil partnerships (see their civil partnership press release). Publications include a leaflet, an overview booklet and a detailed guide.
For more information, and to download all the publications, see the Isis Financial Planners Civil Partnerships web pages.
For more information, and to download all the publications, see the Isis Financial Planners Civil Partnerships web pages.
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Civil Partnership advice for employers
The UK Government have issued a guidance document for UK employers, outlining their responsibilities to employees, under the Civil Partnership Act.
For more information, the gayfinance.info Civil Partnership web pages.
For more information, the gayfinance.info Civil Partnership web pages.
Your help in fighting unjust Inheritance Tax rules
Louis Letourneau, of Isis Financial Planners, asks for your help in fighting unjust Inheritance Tax rules, leading up to the implementation of the Civil Partnership Act in December 2005.
In his latest Gay Times, gtfinance, article, Louis looks at the situation of those people who have lost their partners, since the Civil Partnership Act was passed in November 2004, but who still have to pay, what can be, enormous Inheritance Tax bills, often resulting them having to sell their home. Heterosexual, married couples do not have to pay a penny.
For the full story see the September edition of Gay Times or the gayfinance.info website.
In his latest Gay Times, gtfinance, article, Louis looks at the situation of those people who have lost their partners, since the Civil Partnership Act was passed in November 2004, but who still have to pay, what can be, enormous Inheritance Tax bills, often resulting them having to sell their home. Heterosexual, married couples do not have to pay a penny.
For the full story see the September edition of Gay Times or the gayfinance.info website.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Pope Slams Same-Sex Partnerships as "Anarchy"
News from 
Gay.com reports that the 78-year-old anti-gay Pope Benedict XVI, has slammed gay unions as 'anarchy' . In his first pronouncement since his election as pope, Benedict XVI condemned same-sex unions as fake and threatening to the future of the family.
For the full story see the gay.com website at: http://uk.gay.com/headlines/8630 .
Gay.com reports that the 78-year-old anti-gay Pope Benedict XVI, has slammed gay unions as 'anarchy' . In his first pronouncement since his election as pope, Benedict XVI condemned same-sex unions as fake and threatening to the future of the family.
For the full story see the gay.com website at: http://uk.gay.com/headlines/8630 .
Saturday, June 11, 2005
UK Government Release Guidance For Civil Partnerships
The UK Government Minister, now responsible for the implementation of the Civil Partnership Act, has announced that she is to start publishing guidance, for prospective Civil Partners. Meg Munn, MP, Deputy Minister for Women and Equality announced new Civil Partnership web pages this week.The first of these pages can be found on the Women & Equality Unit's website and is titled: "Civil Partnership implementation E-bulletin June 2005". You can even register to receive new bulletins as they are published.
This is a very welcome initiative, as so far, the publicity about Civil Partnerships has been almost non-existent and many people have no real concept of the mechanisms for registering or the exact details of the rights and obligations that registering offers.
