O’Doherty Warren Solicitors has extensive experience in family law which has changed significantly in recent years.

In 2011 a statutory civil partnership registration scheme for same-sex couples was introduced under the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010. The Act sets out the rights and obligations that civil partners have towards each other. These are broadly the same as the rights and obligations of married couples towards each other. The Act does not change the law on issues relating to children, for example, guardianship, adoption, custody, access or maintenance. 

The Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 also created the term "Cohabitants" (cohabiting couples) as two same-sex or opposite-sex adults who are not married to each other; and not in a registered civil partnership; and not related within the prohibited degrees of relationship (broadly speaking, relationships which would make them ineligible to marry each other) and living together in an intimate and committed relationship. 

O’Doherty Warren Solicitors advises at all stages of the process and recognises how difficult such a matter can be for each of the parties involved.