UK government considers legal rights for cohabiting couples

The UK government is considering legal reforms in England and Wales that would grant automatic property and financial rights to cohabiting couples. Under the proposed framework, couples who have lived together continuously for at least three years, or those who have a child together, would acquire certain legal protections upon the breakdown of a relationship.

Proponents and legal experts suggest the changes would address a significant gap in family law, as there is currently no legal status for “common law marriage” in England and Wales. The reforms aim to provide financial relief for partners—such as stay-at-home parents—who may otherwise lack access to assets held in their partner's name.

However, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has raised concerns regarding the potential impact on marriage rates and fertility. Citing research from Finland, the CSJ suggests that similar reforms could lead to a decline in marriage and birth rates. The CSJ estimates that if equivalent reforms had been introduced in England and Wales in 2011, it could have resulted in over 111,000 fewer marriages and a significant reduction in the annual birth rate.