'Romance is triumphing over professional scepticism' among lesbian and gay lawyers, it was revealed this week, with more than half of lawyers in same-sex relationships planning to register their union under the Civil Partnership Act 2004.

In a members' survey conducted by the Lesbian and Gay Lawyers Association (LAGLA), more than half of the 170 lawyers questioned said they planned to register as civil partners.


Only 22% of those in steady relationships said they did not plan to register the partnership, while 16% said they were 'not sure' or 'waiting to be asked'.


LAGLA chairman Andrea Woelke, principal at Alternative Family Law in London, said: 'We expected to find a degree of lawyerly caution, because so many of our members are family lawyers and know all too well the drawbacks, as well as the advantages of marriage. Despite our work involving the breakdown of relationships, romance seems to be triumphing over professional scepticism.


'It is vital that people do take time to consider the full impact of the legislation before tying the knot - we don't want to see a rush of divorces.'


The Civil Partnership Act 2004 comes into force on 5 December, and gives same-sex couples broadly the same rights as married couples.