Happy couples

Cohabitation accounts for 70% of first relationships, yet there is still no legal recognition for unmarried couples.

The Civil Partnership Bill promised to change that, but despite new rights for same-sex couples, those people in opposite-sex relationships are unprotected.

The Civil Partnership Bill will afford same-sex couples, who have been living together for at least six months, the opportunity to register their relationship on a central register.

While the spirit of the new legislation is encouraging, there is a long way to go.

The new legislation provides some protection to those same-sex couples who actively decide to register their relationship, but what about those who fail to do so? Perhaps more importantly, what about unmarried couples of the opposite sex? The concept of the common law wife remains a popular myth - there is no automatic protection for a woman who has stayed at home to look after her children, while their father goes out to work.

The new legislation will not offer her redress, should she need maintenance for herself, or to stay in his house.

It remains to be seen whether the rights conferred on same-sex couples as a consequence of the new Bill, had they taken the trouble to register their relationship, will fully address these issues.

A better solution would be for cohabiting (whether of the same or opposite sex) couples' relationships to be recognised without the requirement for the relationship to be registered, on the basis that either party automatically acquired rights.

The couple could then have the opportunity to opt out should they so desire.

Ros Bever, Mace & Jones, Knutsford, Cheshire