05/06/2026
BREAKING NEWS: Government launches cohabitation consultation
The Government’s consultation on cohabitation reform is a significant and overdue acknowledgement that the law has fallen behind the reality of modern relationships. A growing proportion of couples now live together without marrying, yet the legal framework continues to offer them little meaningful protection on separation or death. This disconnect has created uncertainty, risk and, in some cases, real financial hardship— particularly where there are shared assets, unequal contributions, or children involved. Reform is therefore not simply desirable but necessary to ensure the law reflects how people actually live today.
We strongly welcome the launch of this consultation, which signals a clear intention to modernise the legal landscape and address long-standing gaps in protection for cohabiting couples.
The proposals — particularly those relating to financial provision on relationship breakdown and potential inheritance rights—represent a shift towards greater fairness and predictability, while also recognising the need to protect more vulnerable parties.
From a practical perspective, these developments reinforce the importance of early advice and proactive planning. Until any reforms are implemented, cohabiting couples remain largely outside the scope of existing protections, making it essential to consider measures such as wills and cohabitation agreements to mitigate risk.
As the consultation progresses, it will be important to strike the right balance between flexibility and certainty. We will continue to monitor developments closely and work with clients to ensure they are well-positioned to respond to any changes in the legal framework.
