The Civil Partnerships Act 2004 is a ground-breaking piece of legislation which allows for the first time, adult same-sex couples to create a legal status, similar to marriage. The Act will come into force in late 2005/early 2006 and remove the statutory discrimination that currently exists in relation to same sex couples. It will also amend a variety of existing statutes. This Guide contains a copy of the Act and explains clearly how it fits with current arrangements for same sex partners. It contains practical step-by-step guides to aid understanding and is an ideal quick reference resource for practitioners in the field.