
1 

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2020 (Commencement No. 1 and Interim Recognition of Different Sex Relationships) Regulations 2020 and come into force on 1 February 2021.
(2) In these Regulations—
(a) unless otherwise stated, a reference to a numbered provision is to the provision so numbered in the Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2020,
(b) “the 2004 Act” means the Civil Partnership Act 2004.
2 

(1) 1 February 2021 is the day appointed for the coming into force of—
(a) section 1 (different sex civil partnerships), section 2 and schedule 1 (recognition of overseas different sex relationships), but only for the purposes mentioned in paragraph (2) of this regulation,
(b) section 3 (interim recognition of different sex relationships formed outwith Scotland), and
(c) section 11 (postponement of decree of dissolution where religious impediment to marry exists), but only for the purpose of enabling the Scottish Ministers to make regulations under section 121A(7) of the 2004 Act.
(2) The purposes are the purposes of—
(a) section 3, and
(b) the following provisions of the 2004 Act—
(i) section 1(3)(a) (ending of civil partnership),
(ii) Chapter 5 of Part 3 (dissolution, separation and nullity), and
(iii) Chapter 3 of Part 5 (dissolution etc.: jurisdiction and recognition).
3 

(1) Section 3(2) (interim treatment of different sex civil partnerships as marriages) does not apply for the purposes of an action for divorce, separation of a married couple, declarator of nullity of marriage or declarator of marriage.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not affect the application of section 3(2) in relation to the determination of any application for an ancillary order in an action for—
(a) the dissolution of a civil partnership,
(b) the separation of civil partners, or
(c) declarator of nullity of a civil partnership.
(3) In this regulation, “ancillary order” means an order relating to children, aliment, financial provision, or the regulation of occupancy rights.
SHIRLEY-ANNE SOMERVILLE
A member of the Scottish Government
St Andrew’s House,
Edinburgh
2nd December 2020