MPs Urge The Government To End Delay On Cohabitation Reform
The Women and Equalities Committee has urged the government to reconsider its position to delay cohabitation law reform, in a letter to Family Justice Minister, Lord Bellamy, on 14 June 2023.
In its November 2022 response to the Committee’s report, the government ruled out improved legal protections for cohabiting partners until existing reviews on divorce and weddings law have concluded. On 15 June 2023, MPs commented that this could take many years with the Law Commission’s scoping paper on financial remedies on divorce not due until September 2024, ahead of a full review.
MPs argue there is no reason why existing reviews should prevent the government from pursuing a separate, bespoke regime for cohabitants now, particularly as cohabiting partners make up the fastest growing type of family, with over 3.6 million partners cohabiting in the United Kingdom.
In addition, the Committee has:
- asked for an update on what the government is doing to raise awareness of the common law marriage myth, which is the belief that people who cohabit have equal rights to those who are married after a certain amount of time living together
- written to the Pensions Minister, Laura Trott, asking for an update on creating clearer guidelines on how pension schemes should treat surviving cohabiting partners, a Committee recommendation which the government accepted in principle
Our own experience shows that many couples still believe cohabitation entitles them to legal rights, which is not in fact the case. The law in this area is far too complex and is urgently in need of reform.
You can read more here: MPs urge the Government to end delay on protections for cohabiting partners.
Author Name: Editor
Published content by The Divorce Surgery Editorial Team.
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