Family Dept to Lobby MP for Cohabitation Reform

Peter Kyle, MP for Hove, has agreed to meet with the Head of our Family Department, Julian Hunt to discuss the lack of rights currently available for cohabiting couples. The initiative is in response to the National Cohabitation Awareness Week 27 November to 1 December 2017.

Julian Hunt intends to ask Mr Kyle to sign an Early Day Motion which has just been tabled by Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, calling for greater legal protection for cohabitants.

Cohabiting couples are the fastest growing family type in the UK, with more than 6 million people living in these sort of relationships.   However, should these couples separate, they currently have little or no legal protection – despite the myth of “common law marriage”.   There are many reasons couples might choose to skip getting married, however merely living together for an amount of time does not provide any legal protection regarding finances or property should the relationship breakdown.

Julian says “back in 2007 the Law Commission recommended rights should be given to cohabiting couples and yet the law remains unchanged. Many people think they are legally protected if they separated – they aren’t.  Until the law catches up people should research what rights they might have on separation and take steps now to protect themselves.  Think carefully about how you might wish to own a property with your partner and consider entering into a Cohabitation Agreement (otherwise known as a Living Together Agreement).”

Julian looks forward to meeting our local MP to agitate for change.  We will be posting further information during Cohabitation Awareness Week.

The Family Law Team at Dean Wilson LLP

01273 249221       lr@deanwilson.co.uk