The Rights of Cohabiting Partners
Women and Equalities Committee
Closed
Inquiry
Cohabiting partners make up the fastest growing type of family, with over 3.4 million partners cohabiting in England or Wales. People in romantic relationships who cohabit currently have less legal protection than those who are married or in a civil partnership in the event of death or separation. Despite this, …
Read more
4
Recommendations
2
Conclusions
1
Report
5
Oral sessions
5
Events
Activity timeline 12 events
1 Nov
2022
2022
4 Aug
2022
2022
Report published
2 Feb
2022
2022
Oral evidence
2 Feb
2022
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
5 Jan
2022
2022
Oral evidence
5 Jan
2022
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
1 Dec
2021
2021
Oral evidence
1 Dec
2021
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
3 Nov
2021
2021
Oral evidence
3 Nov
2021
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
22 Sep
2021
2021
Oral evidence
22 Sep
2021
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
2 Feb 2022
View on parliament.uk
The rights of cohabiting partners; Oral evidence
Mike Freer MP · House of Commons
Mike Freer MP · Government Equalities Office
Neal Barcoe · Ministry of Justice
Professor Nicholas Hopkins · Law Commission
Tom Pursglove MP · Ministry of Justice
5 Jan 2022
View on parliament.uk
The rights of cohabiting partners
Dr Kathryn O’Sullivan · University of Limerick
Jens Scherpe · University of Cambridge
Kate Dowdalls QC · Scottish Law Commission
Professor Margaret Briggs · University of Otago
1 Dec 2021
View on parliament.uk
The rights of cohabiting partners
Baroness Ruth Deech
Elizabeth Darlington
Michael Horton QC
Mr Harry Benson · Marriage Foundation
3 Nov 2021
View on parliament.uk
The rights of cohabiting partners
Graeme Fraser · Resolution
Lisa Ray · Civil Service Pensioners' Alliance and Partner of Later Life Ambitions
Mandip Ghai · Rights of Women
Nazmin Akthar · Muslim Women's Network UK
22 Sep 2021
View on parliament.uk
The Rights of Cohabiting Partners
Professor Anne Barlow · University of Exeter
Professor Gillian Douglas · Dickson Poon School of Law, Kings College, London
Professor Rebecca Probert · The University of Exeter
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second Report - The rights of cohabiting partners | HC 92 | 4 Aug 2022 | 6 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
2 results
1
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
Second Report - The rights of coha…
The current law applicable to cohabitants on relationship breakdown can be costly, complicated and unfair.
The current law applicable to cohabitants on relationship breakdown can be costly, complicated and unfair. Complex property law and trusts principles often require the financially weaker partner—often women—to demonstrate direct financial contributions to the acquisition of the family home, while …
Read more
Government Response
The government commits to consider the best ways to raise awareness about the legal distinctions between marriage, civil partnership and cohabitation, including reviewing the information currently available to the public and considering better signposting for further information and support.
Government Equalities Office
View details
2
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Second Report - The rights of coha…
It is staggering that so many people in England and Wales believe in the common...
It is staggering that so many people in England and Wales believe in the common law marriage myth. This misplaced belief in legal protections can have profound consequences for cohabiting partners—many of whom do not realise the reality of their …
Read more
Government Response
The government partially accepts the recommendation, agreeing to reach out to women in religious communities regarding the consequences of non-legally binding weddings, and will consider whether a broader information campaign is appropriate after reviewing the Law Commission report on weddings law.
Government Equalities Office
View details