united-kingdom marriage
Can an opposite-sex couple in a civil partnership get married?
<p>In the UK, civil partnerships and marriages are both options open to same-sex and opposite-sex couples alike.</p>
<p>Where there seems to be a disparity between the two however is that same-sex couples have the option to <a href="https://www.gov.uk/convert-civil-partnership" rel="nofollow noreferrer">'convert' their civil partnership into a marriage</a> whilst it is explicitly stated that opposite-sex couples cannot do this.</p>
<p>I suppose I can see the logic- for those in same-sex couples who formed their legal relationship before they were able to get married, they might have wished to make this correction when same-sex marriage was formalised and there's no point in taking it off the books now it is there.</p>
<p>But why opposite-sex couples are not permitted to do this too is an unusual oversight.</p>
<p>So, the question; an opposite-sex couple in a civil partnership decide they now want to be married. What can they do?</p>
<p>A conversion is explicitly not allowed.</p>
<p>Can they get married whilst still in the civil partnership?</p>
<p>Do they first need to dissolve their relationship and then get married again?</p>
<p>What?</p>

<p>The legislation simply provides a novel conversion process for same-sex couples to convert their civil partnership to a marriage, with a date retroactive to the commencement of their civil partnership. See <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/3181" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the regulations</a> and the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/section/9/enacted" rel="nofollow noreferrer">provision of the legislation</a> allowing for this process to be created.</p>
<p>There are no restrictions on access to marriage based on the sex of the couple. Any couple can still get married outside of the conversion process, even while in a civil partnership.</p>
