{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/mental-health-act-2007/section-26",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/mental-health-act-2007/section-26.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2007/12",
  "legislation_title": "Mental Health Act 2007",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/mental-health-act-2007",
  "path": "section/26",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "26",
  "heading": "Civil partners",
  "text": "(1) Section 26 of the 1983 Act (definition of “relative” and “nearest relative”) is amended as set out in subsections (2) to (5).\n(2) In subsection (1)(a), after “wife” insert “ or civil partner ”.\n(3) In subsection (5)—\n(a) in paragraph (b) after “wife” insert “ or civil partner ”, and\n(b) in paragraph (c) after “wife,” insert “ civil partner, ”.\n(4) In subsection (6)—\n(a) for “and “wife” include a person who is living with the patient as the patient's husband or wife” substitute “ “ , “wife”and “civil partner” include a person who is living with the patient as the patient's husband or wife or as if they were civil partners” , and\n(b) for “unless the husband or wife” substitute “ or a patient in a civil partnership unless the husband, wife or civil partner ”.\n(5) In subsection (7)(b), for “unless the husband or wife” substitute “ or a patient in a civil partnership unless the husband, wife or civil partner ”.\n(6) In section 27 of the 1983 Act (children and young persons in care), after “wife” insert “ or civil partner ”.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/12/section/26",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:12:49.197749+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}