Isle of Man and Ireland get civil partnerships next month

Gay couples on the Isle of Man will get the right to a civil partnership after a new law was signed in Tynwald. It gives them the same rights as married couples regarding inheritance, pensions and tax allowances. The law comes into effect on 6 April. Civil partnerships gained legal recognition in the UK in 2005 [not 2006 as stated in the article].

Read the full story on BBC News here.

The Ireland’s Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 came into effect from 1 January 2011, however couples were required to give a three month notice period before registrations could begin.

This means that the waiting period for many couples will be up in April. Civil partners will be treated in the same way as spouses under the Irish tax and social welfare codes. New rights and obligations will include maintenance obligations, protection of a shared home, pension rights and succession.

It has been reported that two ceremonies had taken place in secret last month already. It is understood that at least one member of both couples involved are suffering from serious illnesses with a risk of that one may die before the three month notice period for a civil partnership would elapse. Read the full story in PinkNews, here.