London ? Gay couples began registering for civil partnerships at town halls across Britain on Monday as a law took effect giving them many of the same legal rights as married heterosexuals.

Although the law stops short of allowing same-sex couples to marry, many said they were still eager to claim the benefits and official recognition of their relationships – for which some have waited decades. The Times of London marked the day by publishing notices of “gay marriages” for the first time.

“We’re absolutely delighted,” said 80-year-old John Walton, registering in London with his partner of 40 years, Roger Raglan. “It’s enormously important to us that we should be able to state to everyone that we are partners.”

The law, passed last year despite some opposition from Parliament’s unelected House of Lords, permits civil ceremonies that will give same-sex couples the same social security, tax, pension and inheritance rights as married couples. Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government dropped the word “marriage” from its legislation rather than run afoul of lawmakers who feel the word has religious connotations.

Among the first to register Monday were pop star Elton John and his filmmaker partner, David Furnish, whose official proclamation was posted alongside those of other impending weddings and partnerships at Maidenhead Town Hall, west of London.

After the mandatory 15-day waiting period, the couple plan a private ceremony at Windsor’s 17th-century town hall, where Prince Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles in April.

Gay.com projects an image of two men getting married onto the Houses of Parliament in London. Between 800 and 1,000 couples were expected to apply to register under the Civil Partnership Act, which took effect Monday.

“Sir Elton and Mr. Furnish are making a solemn and formal commitment to each other, and our Guildhall offers them dignity and privacy,” said Mary-Rose Gliksten, council leader for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

Pop star George Michael also has announced that he will tie the knot with his long-term partner, Kenny Goss, sometime next year.

Up to 1,000 couples were expected to register their partnerships Monday. In Brighton, the southern beach resort that is Britain’s self-styled gay capital, the register office opened at 7:30 a.m. to accommodate waiting couples.

“It was wonderful,” said the Rev. Debbie Gaston, a minister at Metropolitan Community Church in Brighton who plans to formalize her union with Elaine Gaston on Dec. 21. “We were aware that it was history in the making and we were overwhelmed by it all. It’s been a long time coming.”

The first partnership ceremonies will be held Dec. 19 in Northern Ireland, Dec. 20 in Scotland and Dec. 21 in England and Wales.

The Netherlands, Canada, Belgium and Spain have legalized same-sex marriage, while Germany, France and Switzerland have laws similar to Britain’s. In the United States, only Massachusetts allows gay marriage, while Vermont and Connecticut permit civil unions.