The Telegraph quotes Sarah Jane Boon on Labour’s plans for cohabitation reform
Labour is planning to offer cohabiting couples "marriage in all but name" by proposing greater legal protections for those who choose not to marry.
The Government will soon consult on changing cohabitation laws to support this lifestyle choice. Currently, unmarried couples have limited claims to each other's wealth after a breakup.
Labour's manifesto promises to enhance rights, particularly for women in cohabiting relationships, due to financial vulnerability concerns.
Sarah Jane Boon, Family Partner, speaks with The Telegraph and says any new protections to support cohabiters would be much less powerful than those available to married couples.
What we are now being told is there will be some form of consultation that takes place before the end of this calendar year, and that is about how the law could be reformed so as to make provision for people who are in cohabiting relationships so they can make some form of financial claim should that relationship come to an end.
"I don’t think there is any expectation we would ever have laws that would be introduced that would put cohabiting couples on the same level as married couples. There could be claims that would allow one person to make claims if they cannot go off separately and put a roof on their head.
"What we would expect is that any law would allow someone who, if their relationship breaks down, can make a limited claim to help them meet their needs.
Read the full piece in The Telegraph here (subscription required).
