Reform to Cohabitation Law – rejected! Posted on 09 November 2022 What do you do? Get an agreement and protect yourself it’s the only way! It is with concern that the Government has rejected proposals to reform the legal position of couples who cohabit. This is a short sighted decision by the government and the reality is that society has changed and the law needs to keep pace with it. In the UK, 3.6 million of couples who cohabit are not married. The “common law” concept is a myth and if you are not legally married then you do not have the same rights. The frightening reality is that at the end of a long relationship, when you might have made all sorts of contributions both non-financial and otherwise, you might be left with absolutely nothing, simply because the house is owned solely by your (now ex-) partner. Nor would you be entitled to any financial support, even though you might have given up work in order to support your ex-partners needs, business or home life. The current law can lead to horribly unfair results. Due to the failure of the current law to keep up with changes in society and to achieve fairness, we always recommend that couples have a Cohabitation Agreement drawn up by a specialist family lawyer at Awdry Law to define what will happen in the event their relationship breaks down. This applies not only to new relationships but also to existing ones alike. Don’t delay, click here to speak to one of our experts. Protect your interests from the start or even mid-way through. A properly drafted and considered Cohabitation Agreement is the only way! Cindy Ervine Partner and Head of Family Law