Married, civil partnered, or not:
the legal differences at a glance*

Some areas of the law treat you the same, married, civil partnered, or not - welfare benefits and child support, for example. But in many other areas there are big differences.

Here's an overview of the extent of the differences. Click on the topics to find out more.

*This information does not apply to heterosexual couples living together in Scotland. More information can be found here.

 

red light
Big differences		  
amber light
Some differences
  
green light
Few differences


icon   Banking
 
icon   Child support
icon   Debts
 
icon   Separation
icon   Taxes
 
icon   Leaving a Will
icon   Benefits
 
icon   Inheritance
icon   Pensions
 
icon   Immigration
icon   Buying property
 
icon   Health & sickness
icon   Renting property
 
icon   Changing your name
icon   Birth registration
 
icon   Your child's name
icon   Parental responsibility
   

   
www.marriedornot.org.uk


The Nuffield Foundation and the Department for Constitutional Affairs supported One Plus One's development of material for married or not. The legal information on this site was checked by Sarah Forster, with assistance from Diane McBrinn.

Disclaimer: This website is intended to offer general non-specific guidance in outline form. Those accessing it should not rely solely on the information or advice it contains.