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Shoosmiths backs move to recognise cohabiting couples

03 April 2009

More people are choosing to cohabit rather than get married, according to new government statistics.

But they have no legal rights, Shoosmiths has warned.

The national law firm is backing moves to recognise the relationships of cohabiting couples.

Northampton MP Sally Keeble is sponsoring a Bill to provide equal rights to cohabiting partners, and which proposes a minimum qualifying period for people who live together, with couples opting out if they choose.

Shoosmiths partner and private client specialist Karen Shakespeare warned: "There is a widely held misconception about the existence of common law spouses: there is no such thing, and there hasn't been since 1753.

“Unmarried couples have no legal rights whatsoever. Unfortunately, many people do not discover their lack of legal status until their partner's death, when it is often too late."
 
“But,” she said, "cohabitation has become a socially acceptable alternative to marriage, and a change in the law is needed to ensure that unmarried couples do not suffer financial hardship when their partner dies."

The marital status projections published by the Government's Actuaries Department predict that the proportion of married adult males will fall to 42% by 2031, and females to 40%; while for the same period the number of cohabiting couples is predicted to almost double to 3.8m.

Shakespeare believes the figures reflect the fact that many people believe couples living together for a lengthy period acquire similar rights to married couples. 

 

For further information please contact:
Name: Alastair Gray
Phone: 08700 864096
Email: Alastair.Gray@shoosmiths.co.uk

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