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Open Align legal protections for Cohabiting Couples with those for Married Couples

Created by Anna Matthews
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I call on the Government to urgently update family law, which has not been substantially changed in respect of adult relationships since 1973, to reflect modern developments. Long-term cohabiting couples with children should have financial & legal protection on separation similar to married couples.

I believe the current law is outdated, fragmented and unfair. Unmarried couples must rely on multiple legal routes CAO, TOLATA, and Schedule 1 child proceedings, often requiring separate costly court cases with inconsistent outcomes – leaving long-term partners and children without clear protection. A Private Member’s Bill on cohabitation reform has been introduced in the past but not passed. In some cases of domestic abuse, refusal to marry can leave one partner exposed, vulnerable and financially unprotected.

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