For many people, getting married is the best way to show that they’re making the biggest commitment possible to the person they love.  Taking experts’ advice may seem like a low priority in comparison to organising the big day, but knowing your rights and looking after them is important too.

In the UK, same sex relationships are considered equal in law to a heterosexual relationship.  As with marriage, entering into a civil partnership means taking on responsibilities and accepting that there are some legal implications.  For example, who owns what?  What happens if, sadly, the relationship doesn’t last?  What would the situation be if the unthinkable happened, and one partner died unexpectedly? Did you know that:

• Transfers between civil partners don’t attract inheritance tax
• If you both own properties, you may benefit from advice on your situation regarding capital gains tax

 Two of the best professionals to see, if you’re entering into a civil partnership, are a solicitor and an independent financial adviser (IFA).  You’ll get advice on how to manage your property options, help on tax advice for civil partnerships, and guidance on planning for a happy future together.

Questions you might like to ask the experts…

Do we need to advise HMRC of our civil partnership?

Should we tell our council offices, what happens to our council tax now?

Could we benefit from looking at our finances together?

Should we update our individual wills?