Ruth Deech’s article opposing cohabitation law reform overlooks the reality faced by 3.5 million cohabiting couples in the UK who are not married (David Lammy’s proposed cohabitation law would be bad for couples – and worse for some women, 14 July). While she argues that couples who choose not to marry should not acquire legal rights automatically, the current system of no rights leaves too many vulnerable people, particularly women and children, without meaningful protection when a relationship ends or a partner dies. Many still mistakenly believe in the myth of “common law marriage”. The proposals aim to strike a balance between respecting autonomy and protecting vulnerable people.
The law must reflect modern life. Many couples raise children, share finances and build lives together without marrying, sometimes for cultural, personal or financial reasons, and often because one person doesn’t want to marry. That should not mean that the financially weaker party is left facing hardship.
