News and Press
New private members bill to protect unmarried couples
24 October 2008
Following the Government's decision not to act upon the Law Commission's recommendation to introduce a statutory regime to protect unmarried couples in the event of separation, Resolution, an organisation of 5,000 lawyers who believe in a constructive, non-confrontational approach to family law matters, is introducing a private members Bill in December 2008. The Bill is being introduced by Lord Lester QC of the Odysseus Trust with the support of a small working party from the Resolution Cohabitation Committee.
Matthew Humphries, a family lawyer at TLT and a member of the working party, comments, "The current law for unmarried couples is uncertain and complex and can produce injustice. Upon separation one party may often find themselves having no financial remedies at all which means they can become homeless and receive insufficient financial support for themselves and any children even though they may have lived with their partner for many years. The Bill seeks to address these issues by introducing a comprehensive scheme to resolve financial matters between cohabitants in the event their relationship ends by separation or death".
More information upon the project can be found under Related links.
24 October 2008