What do we mean by a 'partner'?

By 'partner' we mean:

• someone you're married to;
• a civil partner;
• someone you live with as if you are married to them; or
• someone you live with as if you are civil partners.

A civil partnership is a formal arrangement that gives same-sex partners the same legal status as a married couple.

Occasionally we refer to 'your husband, wife or civil partner' instead of 'your partner'. In that case we mean someone who is a husband, a wife or a civil partner, not a partner who you live with as if you are married or as if you are civil partners.