Common law wife?

There is no such thing. More than 3.6m unmarried couples live together and there is often financial hardship for one, when relationships break down.

Cohabitees form the fastest growing type of family in the UK and the government policy is to strengthen rights and protections for cohabitees. The counterargument is that those who choose not to marry and in effect put assets at risk, have the right to do so and it is an infringement on their civil liberties.

New law could lead to couples breaking up or having ad hoc arrangements and all sorts of unintended consequences.

March 2025

Rodney Hylton-Potts