Cohabitation Rights Bill ======================== ![Cohabitation Rights Bill](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/_360/f847a714b1eb6bf6abd9676b4d94c72e.jpeg)The Cohabitation Rights Bill had its first reading in the House of Lords on 9 October 2013. The bill proposes that cohabitees who have lived together as a couple for two years or more, and/or have a child together, will have the right to apply for financial remedies. The bill does not go so far as to offer cohabitees the full range of financial remedies that are available to married couples; however it does incorporate lump sum orders, sale or transfer of property orders and pension sharing orders. It does not entitle cohabitees to periodical payments. In order to avoid being subject to the new provisions, one would have to 'opt out'. The key issue is clearly how quickly this important stipulation will trickle down to people. One can absolutely envisage a scenario where a couple, having been living together for more than two years unaware of the active 'opt out'provision, suddenly find their partner has a number of claims against them. It should also be noted that in in order to opt out one will have to receive independent legal advice. With the increasing number of divorces, many people choose not to get married, simply to avoid the messiness of dealing with the finances if they separate. It is surely questionable, therefore, how appropriate it is for the government to regulate these relationships and allow the proposed reforms to the law of cohabitation. Read more about the Cohabitation Rights Bill [here](https://vardags.com/family-law/cohabitation-rights-bill-receives-second-reading) Update 14/11/2016: to see the progress of the Bill, click [here](https://vardags.com/family-law/cohabitation-rights-bill) "Ayesha Vardag - Britain's top divorce lawyer." ![The Huffington Post](https://vardags.com/images/logo/huffpost.png) "Ayesha Vardag - Woman of the Year"![GG2](https://vardags.com/images/logo/gg2-3.png) "Leading, Magic Circle law firm."Mr Justice Coleridge "A handful of firms dominate the so-called 'glamour' end of the market ... Vardags"The Times "One of the best divorce lawyers in the country"Marie Claire "Ayesha Vardag - 'diva of divorce' for the world's super rich" ![BBC](https://vardags.com/images/logo/bbc.png) "Dr Stephen Bence is a financial genius."Lewis Marks KC "Ayesha Vardag - the Queen of divorce"Daily Mail "Vardags brilliantly argued my case to a resounding victory"Pauline Chai (client) "Britain's top divorce lawyer" ![The Telegraph](https://vardags.com/images/logo/telegraph.png) More Divorce news ----------------- [Nuptial Settlements](https://vardags.com/family-law/nuptial-settlements "Nuptial Settlements") [Managing Director Catherine Thomas is featured in The Lawyer](https://vardags.com/posts/md-catherine-thomas-in-the-lawyer "Managing Director Catherine Thomas is featured in The Lawyer") [Cohabitation Rights Bill](https://vardags.com/family-law/cohabitation-rights-bill "Cohabitation Rights Bill") [Managing Director Catherine Thomas is featured in The Global Legal Post](https://vardags.com/posts/managing-director-catherine-thomas-is-featured-in-the-global-legal-post "Managing Director Catherine Thomas is featured in The Global Legal Post") [Shadow directors beware: M v M and the application of Prest](https://vardags.com/family-law/non-disclosers-beware-m-v-m "Shadow directors beware: M v M and the application of Prest") Articles by Sophie Cantillon ---------------------------- [Cohabitation Rights Bill](https://vardags.com/family-law/cohabitation-rights-bill "Cohabitation Rights Bill")