Resolution pushes to raise awareness of cohabitation laws

Family law association Resolution is preparing to hold a Cohabitation Awareness Week.

Every year the organisation chooses a particular area of family law to focus on, encouraging members to open up discussions and trying to promote debate across various media outlets.

This year’s campaign will focus on cohabitation, which remains an area where Resolution is lobbying MPs to review existing legislation as a matter of urgency.

Cohabiting couples are the fastest growing family group in the UK today and family law professionals have grown increasingly frustrated at how little protection they are afforded by the law.

Over the course of the week-long campaign, Resolution members will be drawing attention to some of the issues that can arise as a result of the fact that the nation’s legal framework hasn’t caught up with the times.

As well as bringing extra pressure to bear on politicians, it hopes to increase awareness among cohabitees.

Part of the problem is that the lack of provision is often overlooked by unmarried couples, who wrongly assume that “common-law marriage” is recognised by courts in England and Wales.

Graeme Fraser, Partner at North London firm OGR Stock Denton and Resolution’s spokesperson on Cohabitation, commented: “Under current law it’s possible to live with someone for decades and even have children together and then simply walk away without taking any responsibility for a former partner if the relationship breaks down.”

OGR Stock Denton are participating in National Cohabitation Awareness Week, and will be running a Cohabitation Homebuyer’s Seminar at their offices, on Wednesday 29 November highlighting the issues.

 

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