New research into cohabitation in Britain over the last 30 years suggests that the growth in couples living together could be helping to cut down on divorce.
The study, carried out for the Office of National Statistics (ONS) by University of Southampton researchers Éva Beaujouan and Máire Ní Bhrolcháin, was based on findings of the ONS’s General Household Survey between 1979-2007.
In the early 1960s, fewer than one in 100 adults under the age of 50 lived as part of an unmarried couple, a figure that has now risen to one in six. However, more cohabiting couples now separate without marrying, and fewer marry, than two decades ago.
The report also found that cohabitation remained a relatively short-term type of relationship, adding: “At the tenth anniversary of moving in together, half of cohabiting couples have married each other, just under four in ten have separated, and slightly over one in ten are still living together as a couple, on the most recent figures.”
The researchers also suggested that cohabitation could be seen “as promoting rather than competing with marriage…this could be so if cohabitation acted as a kind of marital firewall, keeping out of the married population couples whose relationship is more fragile.”
Victoria Daniell, head of the Family department at Gregg Latchams, said: “This research sheds some interesting light on cohabitation.. The law has not changed to reflect the growing significance of cohabitation, with the government last month ruling out any reform of cohabitation law before 2015, despite recommendations for a new scheme of financial remedies for separating couples, which leaves many people at a substantial disadvantage if their relationship ends or one party dies, something which is often not understood until it is too late.
“Separating cohabitees remain legally two unrelated individuals with no right to claim maintenance, except for the children. The law relating to their interests in property is complex and if one partner dies without making a will, the survivor will not be automatically entitled to a share of their estate, under the laws of intestacy, but will have to establish a claim as dependant under the Inheritance Provision for Family and Dependants Act 1975.“
“Cohabitation is an arrangement that suits many couples in a long-term relationship, but partners who are living together should take advice to protect their financial interests, for example making wills and considering how they intend their property should be shared if the relationship ends.”
For more information, please contact the Family department.
