Civil Relationships -v- Marriage

I have no actual idea what the legal differences between civil partnership and marriage are. Does anyone on here know?

It might just be useful if someone could define these before the discussion continues.

Funny, how the legalization of gay marriage changes the whole conversation about civil relationships.

There definitely seems to be a contradiction in the pro-civil relationships argument, doesn't there? "We don't need to be married but we need the protection of marriage." Odd.

I haven't been asked to sign this petition (yet). But I don't sign online petitions, so I wouldn't do it, no matter.

Irritates me, they want to change the law because they believe they don't need a marriage certificate to prove they are dedicated to commitment , just pop into local registry office , get married and shut up

I thought civil partnerships would disappear once marriage became all-encompassing. Apparently not. In my ignorance, I have no idea why this is seen as preferential to becoming legally married. I'm baffled too... I don't plan to sign because I'm pro-marriage and the choice is to opt in or not.

I thought the same as you annsixty. Life is bewildering!

I don't understand this. Is the suggestion that anyone of any sex can have a civil partnership with no legal consequences when it breaks down. Any partnership needs dissolving with a share of assets etc .
I always thought civil partnerships were brought in for same sex partners to have some legal standing when they could not marry.

I too was asked to sign that petition but won't.
The reason given was that they opted not to marry as they'd both been married before and didn't want to do it again. Fair enough, but by choosing the relative 'freedom' of a civil partnership they also chose to miss out on the legal protection om marriage.
It's a choice not to marry..
My daughter went into a civil partnership but at the first opportunity they chose to marry.
If they want the protèction they should be prepared to make the commitment.