Dear Emma
I live in the UK, and am in a serious relationship with a girl from America. We see each other as often as we can afford and plan on entering a civil partnership after I graduate from University. That wouldn't be for another 2 years, but I'm trying to get as much research done as possible. I know we have to apply to the local Registry office, but what rights would our partnership have if we wanted to move back to America together? Any advice you can give would be helpful.
Name withheld to protect privacy
Hi,
I'm impressed; I've heard of planning a year or eighteen months in advance but 2 years shows real forward thinking!
In short, it depends on where you want to live (I guess your partner's place of residence is a big factor there) because civil-partnerships are only recognised by law in a small number of US states. As this changes often, check with the state you plan to live in.
Even if same-sex marriage is recognised in your future home state, it may not extend to civil partnerships solemnized abroad. You may have to re-marry there to have your union recognised, and Massachusetts for example has residency rules that you'd have to take a serious look at before you could do that.
Things are changing in America with regards to same-sex partnerships and legal recognition of them all the time. You can keep up to date with the developments in our News section , and that will also give you a flavour of just how hot a topic it is over there. Who knows what will have changed in two years time? Let's keep our fingers crossed that one day people won't ever have to ask this question again.
Emma
