Will unmarried couples in England and Wales get new rights?
In short
Reform has been debated for two decades. The Law Commission proposed in 2007 a scheme of financial relief for cohabitants who separate, and in 2011 limited inheritance rights, but neither was enacted. In 2022 the Women and Equalities Committee urged reform, and the government replied that work on marriage and divorce law had to come first.
What the full article will cover
- What rights do cohabitants lack today?
- What did the Law Commission recommend in 2007 and 2011?
- Why were the proposals not implemented?
- What has Parliament said since 2022?
- What is the government planning now?
- How would England compare with Scotland?
Frequently asked questions
- Will cohabitants get the same rights as married couples?
- What is an opt-out cohabitation scheme?
- Should cohabiting couples sign a cohabitation agreement?
- Would reform apply in Wales too?
Sources
- lawcom.gov.uk — https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/cohabitation/
- commonslibrary.parliament.uk — https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn03372/
General information, not legal or religious advice.