The fastest rising living arrangement in England and Wales is the cohabiting couple family; this has more than doubled from 1.5 million families in 1996 to 3.3 million families in 2017*. Cohabitation has its advantages but it certainly doesn’t provide legal protection. Due to a lack of public awareness, there is, the perhaps, mistaken belief, that a “common law” spouse has the same entitlement as a married spouse or civil partner. Continue reading “No legal protection for cohabiting couples”
No legal protection for cohabiting couples
The fastest rising living arrangement in England and Wales is the cohabiting couple family; this has more than doubled from 1.5 million families in 1996 to 3.3 million families in 2017*. Cohabitation has its advantages but it certainly doesn’t provide legal protection. Due to a lack of public awareness, there is, the perhaps, mistaken belief, that a “common law” spouse has the same entitlement as a married spouse or civil partner.
