As growing numbers of same sex couples take up their right to enter into civil partnerships, many have little concept of how to dissolve their union, when their relationship fails, it was claimed today.
Midlands law firm Blakemores say they are being inundated with telephone calls from worried men and women who, having entered into such a partnership, fail to realise that they must wait one year after it was formed before they can break free from their unhappy bond.
Many same sex couples who have taken advantage of the Civil Partner-ship Act 2004 which came into force on December 5, have now separated.
Blakemores said: "Whilst December 2005 saw much media interest in same sex celebrity part-nerships such as Elton John's, December 2006 will herald the first same sex divorces!"
Vivienne Fisher, associate solicitor, who special-ises in family law at Blakemores, said: "In the same way that married couples must wait for one year before starting divorce proceedings, couples who have entered into civil partnerships have little idea of the one year bar, or how they would go about dissolving their union.
"Blakemores are advising increasing numbers of clients on their legal rights, having entered into civil partnerships.
"Most people are surprised to learn that it is harder to divorce than enter into a civil partner-ship.
"Only now are they learning of the legal binding ties that a civil part-nership created in their relationship."
