All civil partners can now marry in Scotland

Couples who have a civil partnership registered abroad or elsewhere in the UK can now marry in Scotland following an extension to existing legislation.

Previously, the legislation meant only civil partnerships registered in Scotland could be changed.

Holyrood passed the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 last year.

More than 1,000 same sex couples have now married in Scotland

Local government minister Marco Biagi said: “We are sending a powerful message out about the kind of country we are – one which is incredibly proud that same sex couples can show their love and commitment to each other by getting married.

“By passing historic legislation last year, and now extending it to include those who had a civil partnership outwith Scotland , we are demonstrating to the world how importantly Scotland views equality.”

Tim Hopkins, director of the Equality Network, said: “We very much welcome this change, which is a small but important piece of unfinished business from the equal marriage legislation last year.

“Without this, same-sex couples living in Scotland who have registered a civil partnership outwith Scotland would be unable to marry in Scotland unless they live apart for a year first to dissolve their civil partnership.

“That’s obviously not an option for most couples, and now they will be able to marry in the usual way, changing their civil partnership directly to a marriage.

“The number of couples in this situation is relatively small, but the value of the change to them is huge.”

The Scottish government is currently consulting on the future of civil partnerships in Scotland.

The consultation closes on Tuesday 15 December at 5pm.