French heterosexual couples having 'gay civil partnerships'

Heterosexual couples in France are increasingly opting for "gay civil partnership ceremonies" rather than marriage to avoid the possibility of expensive divorces.
By Peter Allen in Paris
16 Feb 2009

Ninety per cent of "solidarity pacts" a year are now being made between people of the opposite sex, despite them being specifically designed for homosexuals, who are not formally allowed to marry in France.

The Civil Solidarity Pacts, or PACS according to their French language abbreviation, take just 15 minutes and can be performed by a court clerk.

Just as significantly, they can be ended with a single letter from either partner, without any claims on the other's money or property. the rest