It is currently believed that there are over 3.6 million co-habiting families in England and Wales with this number increasing each year. Cohabiting couples have very limited rights under the current law, and this can leave the more financially vulnerable out of the two in a very difficult situation on the breakdown of the relationship. As a result of this, the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee have been campaigning for a reform of the law surrounding this in order to … [Read more...]
Declaration of Trust for cohabiting couples
Amelia Fernley, Trainee Solicitor at Sinclair Law Solicitors, looks at Declarations of Trust for cohabiting couples and explains their importance in setting out 'who gets what' in the event of a break-up, meaning that a dispute could be avoided. Our expert family lawyers can help draft a Declaration of Trust that best suits you and offer a free initial chat for all new clients. According to the 2021 census, approximately 60% of the population live in a couple and around one in five … [Read more...]
The ‘Myth’ of Common Law Marriage
As time goes on, marriage is on the decline. The Office for National Statistics found that opposite sex marriages have fallen by 47% since 1972. Cohabiting couples however are on the rise. It is therefore important to raise awareness of the ‘myth’ of common law marriage. As many as 46% of people in the UK continue to believe that “common law marriage” exists. Unfortunately, the law has not kept up with the changes in society. Cohabiting couples have no legal status, no matter how long … [Read more...]
Divorce Rates Continue To Decline As Couples Look To Cohabitation
The latest divorce figures from the Office of National Statistics show that the divorce rate in England and Wales continues to fall. There were 111,169 divorces in 2014, a decrease of 3.1% compared with 2013 and a substantial decline of 27% from a recent peak in 2003. The leading explanation for this leans towards the increasing trend for couples to cohabit. Divorce rates for men and women, 1950 to 2014, England & Wales. Cohabitation Instead Of Marriage? Increasingly couples are … [Read more...]