A civil partnership is a legal relationship that is available to same-sex couples in the UK and in some other countries. Civil partnerships provide many of the same rights and responsibilities as marriage, including the ability to enter into a legally recognized relationship, the ability to adopt children, and the ability to make medical decisions for a partner.

To enter into a civil partnership, same-sex couples must meet certain eligibility requirements and register their partnership with the government. The process for entering into a civil partnership is similar to the process for getting married, and couples must sign a civil partnership document and have their partnership registered by a civil registrar.

Civil partnerships have been recognized in the UK since 2004 and have provided same-sex couples with many of the same legal protections and benefits as married couples. In recent years, the UK has also introduced the option of same-sex marriage, which is now available to all couples, regardless of their gender.