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How does one define 'cohabitation'? If one defines it as a relationship analagous to marriage, that means a relationship of both one second's and a lifetime's duration - and everything in between. One is married when one walks out of the Church or the Registry Office or other place of marriage. The parties to that marriage may not have cohabited prior to its solemnisation. The analogy to that could be, on a strict interpretation, no more than a 'one night stand'! Thus I agree that if parties to a relationship wish it to be govened by law, they should solemnise it by way of marriage or civil partnership. If they chose not or neglect to do so, they must bear the consequences of that - rather than expecting the law to fill the lacuna that they have created.