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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Law is 'unjust' for unwed couples | Law is 'unjust' for unwed couples |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Couples who are living together should have more legal rights, according to a report by the Law Commission. | |
| It says the current law is "unjust", and the 2.2m co-habiting couples in England and Wales should have more protection if they split up. | It says the current law is "unjust", and the 2.2m co-habiting couples in England and Wales should have more protection if they split up. |
| It does not suggest cohabiting couples get the same rights as married ones. | It does not suggest cohabiting couples get the same rights as married ones. |
| But it does suggest financial compensation after a break-up, based on the contribution to the relationship, and would allow for couples to opt out. | |
| Couples without children should have lived together for at least two years for this to apply, it suggests. | Couples without children should have lived together for at least two years for this to apply, it suggests. |
| The Law Commission advises the government on legal reform. | The Law Commission advises the government on legal reform. |
| Our scheme strikes the right balance between the need to alleviate hardship and the need to protect couples' freedom of choice Stuart BridgeLaw Commission | |
| It says the current law is "complex, uncertain, expensive...and often gives rise to outcomes that are unjust". | It says the current law is "complex, uncertain, expensive...and often gives rise to outcomes that are unjust". |
| It wants a financial value put on the contribution each person makes during a cohabiting relationship. | It wants a financial value put on the contribution each person makes during a cohabiting relationship. |
| For example, if a partner has given up a career to bring up children, they should receive compensation if the couple separates, it suggests. | For example, if a partner has given up a career to bring up children, they should receive compensation if the couple separates, it suggests. |
| Stuart Bridge, the law commissioner responsible for the reforms, said current law for dealing with property disputes was "unclear and complicated". | |
| It often caused serious hardship for not only the couple, but their children too, he said. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I thought living together was all about not being committed. If you want the benefits of commitment, get married! Heather, West Sussex Send us your comments | |
| He rejected claims such reforms would undermine marriage. | |
| "We consider our scheme strikes the right balance between the need to alleviate hardship and the need to protect couples' freedom of choice." | |
| The commission says it should be up to ministers to fix a minimum period that a couple should live together for before the scheme applied. | |
| Unlike in cases of divorce, cohabiting couples would not be expected to pay continuing maintenance payments and there would be no principle that assets should be split equally. | |
| 'Common-law myth' | |
| The commission said many believed in the "common law" myth - the idea that partners would be entitled to a share of the assets when a relationship broke down. | The commission said many believed in the "common law" myth - the idea that partners would be entitled to a share of the assets when a relationship broke down. |
| However, at present, co-habiting couples have very little legal protection. | |
| The report was two years in the making and builds on a consultation paper published in May 2006. | The report was two years in the making and builds on a consultation paper published in May 2006. |
| The government is now considering the recommendations. | The government is now considering the recommendations. |