More Eminent Judges Speak Out In Favour of Extending Protection to Cohabiting Couples
Whilst not saying that there should be exactly the same protection as married couples, the President of The Supreme Court, Baroness Hayle, indicated that England should adopt the same kind of approach as Scotland when it comes to the end of an unmarried relationship. The key from her point of view was the parties receiving “a fair and just allocation of resources”.
Whether this opens a door to millions of unmarried couples no longer having to fear being at severe financial risk is a moot point.
In some ways this seems to be the inevitable extension of people living in unmarried relationships more and more. The protection afforded to married couples just isn’t available to so much of society anymore.
There are now millions of couples living as Cohabitants and there is little or no protection at all over and above basic property rights on Deeds and the possibility of Occupancy under the Children’s Act if there are children.
It remains to be seen whether this will ever come to pass given the lack of enthusiasm for such moves in Parliament.
