What do you think about proposed rights for cohabiting couples?

[CheekyPombear]

Recently I have read that the government is going to give rights to couples that live together equal rights that only married people usually have.

The proposals are if you live with someone who owns or inherits a property or money after 3 years if you split up or they die you can claim half or inherit.

That is insane. Even if your married for three years under current law its classed as short and you wouldnt get half.

There is a older gentlemen who lives with his disabled brother on my street.

Say his brother dies and he takes a younger lodger in and he dies that lodger could say she had a romantic relationship with him and claim the property?. If thats the case whats the point of making a will?.

Also there is no such thing as common law marriage thats why people who dont want to lose money or property if a relationship ends dont get married.

What does anyone else think about this?.

I disagree with it. If you want the legal protection of marriage, then get married!!

I was in a similar situation.
Lived with a high earner who owned his house. I could not contribute anything to bills at all as I was not able to to work, but also not eligible for benefits because of his salary.
I was not financially abused.. he gave me a credit card I could use, and he paid it off no questions asked.

I signed a deed thing saying I had no dibs in his house.

So I am not sure why I would be entitled to any of it at all should this bill have been a thing when we were still together.

The whole reason I absolutely refused to marry my abusive ex who I share a child with is because I had more assets, and I was also set to have better earning potential. I was biding my time until I was financially stable enough to leave and be able to provide for our child on my own. I still ended up having to pay him to keep the house (which houses our child), and yet he still hasn’t paid a penny in child support (I have majority custody and pay for everything). This would have been a nightmare for me under the new law.

I don’t understand why they haven’t put more effort into getting men to pay towards a child after a separation, rather than penalising people who have chosen not to marry.

I don’t understand why they haven’t put more effort into getting men to pay towards a child after a separation, rather than penalising people who have chosen not to marry.

Too much like hard work! Though I agree that would be a better thing to aim for.

If you are happy to have legal and financial obligations to someone you can get married or a civil partnership. Theres no need for this.

I've been with my partner for years and years. We do both own our house but I inherited last year from my dad ...I want this going to my children, surely making a Will is enough? (He can have my pension but I want my dad's money going to my kids) I deliberately didn't get married because I wanted to protect my children from my previous marriage.

My dad's partner will likely outlive him, as most women do. They are both widowed, in their 70s, and have chosen not to marry to protect the children of their respective marriages. But now my mother's children will be forcibly disinherited? Because the government says so?

These people, their unwarranted meddling. Why can't the government leave us alone.

I think it makes a mockery of marriage but then there seems to be an active campaign to do away with marriage and families, eroding women's rights and paving the way for removing autonomy of children for parents.

Even the TV programming is all about swinging and thruples etc.

I think it's an appalling idea and wide open to abuse.

You have to wonder why. Is it to divide people up more so they DON"T live together (therefore sell more houses etc) because if you aren't in a place where you want to get married or you don't want to get married, it's not leaving any other options other than don't live together.

There seems to be a real carving up and division of society since Brexit - Brexiteer/Remainer, Vaccinate or don't vaccinate, Israel/Palestine, Pro Trans/Anti Trans and now this.

Meanwhile the Governments fuck us all over financially while we are all arguing about events on the other side of the world.

I’m not sure this is the right way to approach the issue but I definitely think something should be done.
How many people discuss marriage or civil partnerships early in a relationship?

Three examples of couples I know who aren’t married.

Mid 40’s. He had just bought a house when he met his partner, unplanned pregnancy quite early in the relationship.
She moved in with him, paid towards the running costs of the house.

Three years later they move to a larger house, again it’s in his sole name, they discussed having a second child, he buys her an engagement ring. Second child comes along.
Both children are now in high school.
She wants to get married but he isn’t interested.

Another couple in their mid 40’s

She had a house when they met, he moved in. Had a child.
He earns significantly more than she does.

They move to a larger house, her sole name. He pays for all new furniture for the new house. All family holidays and extras are down to him.

He buys her an engagement ring, she chooses it, but refuses to get married.
She has said that she will not get married because if they split up he would be entitled to part of the house.

Last couple are in their 60’s.
Both are divorced, they’ve been together around 25 years.
She moved in with him, he is very wealthy. He bought her a beautiful diamond ring several years ago, mentioned marriage,
He later changed his mind, said he wouldn’t get married in case she left as she would be entitled to a payout.

She has always contributed towards the house although now less so as she no longer works.
Safe to say in this instance he uses the situation to his advantage, I’ve actually heard him say so.
I think all of these people should have some kind of protection.

@Lugol this

Shit. Is there an opt out here - a way to protect myself? My partner has no money. No assets. I have a house. I have a pension, a business. We live together but don’t share finances at all. I’m pretty wealthy, he is not. He’s ate 40s in early 50s. Im very committed very much in love but im not hitching my wagon to him - I could never marry him because of the financial imbalance and I want my wealth to go to my kids if I die. What can I do? We’ve lived together for a year.

I don’t. They’ve made their choices knowing that as things stand they (rightly) won’t be entitled to the homeowner’s assets. If they wanted to secure their own financial futures they could’ve made different choices, although the guy in scenario 2 sounds like he’ll be fine if he’s a high earner.

As for “how many people talk about marriage early in a relationship” if they don’t, they should. I told people on the first date I have no desire or intention to ever get married and if they did, we should end the date there and then. If people can’t be arsed to educate themselves about the legalities of marriage or have honest conversations about what they’re looking for, that’s their problem, not the state’s.

I do agree much more should be done about ensuring separated and absentee fathers support their children through. Raise child support, prosecute non-paying men Just not this!

Watch and wait, I guess. Write to our MPs.

Talk to your DP in advance about signing the opt-out as soon as it becomes available. Any push-back, ask him to secure his own address again and revert to being your 'gentleman caller'.

Hope the 'opt-out' is not retrospective and not too ridiculously complex.

Is there definately going to be an 'opt-out'? is that legally enforceable? does anyone know anything about this?

I agree. Stupid fucking idea. No-one is going to want to live with ANYone! Ii they HAVE to do (and I don't think they should,) it would be a better idea if it had been 20 years. 3 years my arse. 🙄

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This too. ^

Very good points. People should know by now that getting married is the ONLY way to bring security to your relationship, to yourself, and to your life. And it's more important for WOMEN to make sure they're financially protected.

Please don't anyone insult my intelligence by demanding to know why. 🙄

It's a terrible idea. We have it in Australia and it puts me off getting involved. I can't risk my assets, after getting divorced.

I’m panicking now. If it’s retrospective I’m buggered. I can’t lose my assets.

Instead of spending money on a Consultation why can't funds be used for tv/tiktok/fb advertising spelling out the legal difference between marriage and cohabitation? That way we can all make an informed choice.

Do people think this is really going to go through, and will it be retrospective, and will there be an opt-out? Do i need to be concerned now? (Im a year living with someone and I cant lose my assets - again - after a nasty divorce).

I hope it doesn’t go through! It’s mad 😠

3 years isn’t very long. It could be 5+ years or something. It’s a proposal and there will be so much backlash it won’t happen. People are too selfish in this country, plus there isn’t enough housing for all those made homeless due to this policy.
im struggling to see who this would benefit in practice? Take the predicament of someone who isn’t me: moved into partner’s owned property many years ago, paid ‘rent’ all that time, rent increased over the years due to COL etc. was always promised name would be added to mortgage/marriage would happen but neither did. Now considered lodger with no security and nothing to show for what they paid in. I appreciate people like this are in the minority, but I’m assuming this policy is designed to help those in similar situations?

I also worry about the rise of domestic abuse as a result, partners angry about their possible loss of assets, eviction of their partners or worse.

I don’t think enough people care about those in situations like that @YorkieTheRabbit 🤷‍♀️