1. As of 5 December, same-sex couples can get legal recognition for their relationship. They must give notice of their intention to register, and then, after a 15-day waiting period, sign on the dotted line in front of a registrar and a couple of witnesses - and become civil partners.
2. Being a civil partner brings rights and responsibilities. Partners have to agree to provide maintenance for each other, and for the family.
They have rights to employment and benefits, and recognition for immigration and nationality. The new legal status of partnership also sorts the problem of inheritance between gay couples. When a married person dies, their property simply passes to the surviving partner, with a total exemption from inheritance tax. The survivor in a gay couple may face a massive bill, which in some cases has led to them losing their home. Now, registered gay couples have the same exemptions as married couples.
3. The rules are that the same-sex couple must not already be in a civil partnership or marriage. Both partners must be at least 16 years old. In Scotland, individuals aged 16 or over will be able to register their partnership without parental consent. In the rest of the UK, those aged 16 and 17 will have to obtain the written consent of their parents or guardians.
4. The Government has avoided using the terms gay wedding or marriage.
The registration process is entirely secular and non-religious. It works on signatures, not by spoken vows as a wedding does. There is no need to have any other form of ceremony. But many couples are likely to want some form of celebratory service or ceremony. Expect rings, flowers, photographers, cake and all the rest of the typical wedding razzmatazz. Couples can adapt an opposite-sex marriage ceremony or just make something up that suits.
5. The Church of England has officially ruled out devising a liturgy for ceremonies and has advised vicars not to offer blessings as part of civil partnerships. The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement calls this "double dealing, duplicity and disregard for decency" - and continues to offer ideas for blessings. It will put couples in touch with a minister or priest willing to bless them - see www.lgcm.org.uk.
6. A civil partnership is a binding arrangement with implications. Lawyers point out that all existing wills are revoked on registration of a civil partnership. And if a relationship does not work out, partners have to apply to the courts to prove that the relationship has irretrievably broken down. Courts will help in determining the splitting of assets, so lawyers are recommending prenuptial agreements. But with the prospect of business, they would say that, wouldn't they?
