With the recent news of the break-up of comedian Matt Lucas and his partner Kevin McGee, dissolutions of civil partnership agreements are in the headlines. Lucas and McGee wed in a civil ceremony in Britain in 2006, but have since grown apart. Theirs is the first high-profile same sex marriage in Britain to break up, and it is likely to receive a lot of attention - as will civil partnership agreements and dissolutions in general.

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into effect in the UK on the 5^th December 2004. It allows same sex couples to enter into a legal partnership, affording them many of the same rights as heterosexual married couples. As with traditional marriage in Britain, both parties must be over the age of 16 to enter into a civil partnership, and must receive their parents' consent if they are younger than 18. Close blood relatives are not eligible, and a person cannot register a civil partnership if they are already married or in an existing civil partnership.

A civil ceremony can take place in a register office or an approved premises, where both parties must sign a document called a civil partnership schedule in the presence of a registrar and two witnesses. A civil partnership offers couples many of the same financial benefits as married couples of opposite sex, including benefits for tax, national insurance, and pensions. It also offers partners the rights to parental responsibility for their partner's children, ‘next of kin' rights in the event of illness or injury, and recognition in immigration cases.

Sadly, as with heterosexual marriages, not all civil partnerships last, and couples may eventually seek a dissolution of the agreement. If a couple does decide to dissolve their civil partnership agreement, the law governing this is very similar to the law relating to divorce.

The couple must have been in a registered civil partnership for 12 months to obtain a dissolution. Otherwise they would need to apply for a separation order. The partner who is applying for the dissolution must complete a petition, explaining the reasons for ending the civil partnership. There are four main grounds for dissolving a civil partnership:-

1. If the couple have lived apart for at least two years and both agree to the dissolution
2. If the couple have lived apart for five years or more, in which case the respondent partner's agreement is not required
3. If one partner has deserted the other for at least two years, in which case their agreement to the dissolution is not required
4. If a partner has behaved in an unreasonable manner which the petitioner cannot be expected to live with.

As with any divorce, the court must then decide on a fair division of the couple's assets. This decision will be based on a number of factors, including the overall length of the civil partnership, the age of each partner, and each partner's financial position. If there are children involved, provision will be made for them.

It is sad and stressful when any long-term relationship ends, and it is always preferable if a couple can come to an amicable agreement to avoid a protracted legal battle. The decision to enter into a marriage or civil partnership is a big one, and should be considered carefully, taking the needs and feelings of both parties and any children into account.