Family & Divorce

Pre-civil partnership agreements

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Pre-civil partnership agreements

Our Approach

Civil partnerships for gay couples came into force in 2005.

Since then, we have prepared a high number of pre-civil partnership agreements (“pre-cips”) on behalf of clients.

While many gay couple now wish to marry and therefore seek prenuptial agreements, some clients still choose to enter into civil partnerships. and wish to have suitable arrangements in place if their relationship breaks down.

The financial outcomes on the dissolution of a civil partnership, follow the same law as those going through a divorce.

So provided that the couple has freely entered into the agreement with a full appreciation of its implications, and unless it would not be fair to hold the parties to the agreement, the pre-civil partnership agreement is likely to be upheld.

A strong team ethic shines through at Kingsley Napley and there is ready support from across the whole team, whose assistance is always quick, accurate and reassuring.

Chambers and Partners _ 2025

The team are especially good at being empathetic towards their clients and taking the time to engage with their wider personal context.

Chambers UK _ 2026

Our Expertise

Recent examples of work

We acted for a professional dancer who was planning to enter into a civil partnership with his partner, a banker in the City. As most of the assets were built up prior to the relationship but the couple had lived a high standard of living, the agreementfocused on the client’s generously interpreted needs, particularly as he got older and would not be able to continue in his profession. We also worked closely with our Private Client team who prepared Wills to ensure financial provision in the event of the fiance’s death.
We acting for an entrepreneur who was seeking to protect his assets by entering into a pre-civil partnership agreement with his partner, a much younger man who was a personal trainer. The client had children from an earlier relationship to whom he wanted to leave his assets but he was comfortable to share his income going forward. We recommended and worked with the fiance’s solicitors to reach fair terms which were likely to be enforced in the future.