| A marriage, once finalised, was a holy affair, and it | | | | has confessed that the rules pertaining to cohabitation |
| was considered a sin to break it up. In the UK, about | | | | are unfair and messy. It started out to reform the rules, |
| three quarters of all marriages are ending in divorce. | | | | didn’t reach a solution after a report was published |
| Cohabitation seems to be gaining popularity, as the | | | | six years later, and in 2002 had started with the |
| number of couples living out of marriage has | | | | process again. 3. Annulment of the cohabitation |
| skyrocketed. A survey revealed that most people | | | | agreement is also problematic. Any vagueness in the |
| between 25 – 40 years of age no more believe in | | | | terms can make it null and void in the eyes of the law, |
| marriage as an infallible institution. In fact, a sizeable | | | | and then the couple would be left by themselves to |
| portion of them have got married themselves, as they | | | | keep on fighting. Some have likened the cohabitation |
| felt it would be an appropriate gesture. Since the | | | | agreement to a prenuptial deed. Both these |
| meaning of marriage itself has changed, many social | | | | documents are unfortunately drawn by people who |
| scientists are beginning to look upon cohabitation as a | | | | are very much in love, and not thinking of moving |
| form of evolved marriage. And, if we take God’s | | | | away from each other. Therefore, the clauses |
| original idea into consideration, it would be better to go | | | | aren’t clearly mentioned and property division is not |
| for an arrangement where one would not part, even if | | | | meticulously done. 4. Children might face a major |
| it means ‘living in sin’. The Guardian newspaper | | | | disadvantage if a cohabitating couple splits up. It would |
| carried an article about a single mom in the 1980’s | | | | be way more complicated if the man is not the |
| who had voiced her opinion on being a lone parent | | | | biological father, or- and this is the worst case- the |
| – but seemed to have the same moral makeup | | | | woman is a ‘stepmom’. The ex-spouses from |
| about ‘illegitimate children’, ‘living in sin’ etc. | | | | previous marriages can also step in around this time |
| This is a strange time for Britain, as there are changes | | | | and get things royally messed up. 5. Small and |
| happening very fast, but no one can afford to stand | | | | movable property, i.e., furniture, car, computer, |
| and analyse things. The Advantages of Cohabitation | | | | mementos – can be the reason of the greatest |
| There are several pleas on behalf of marriage against | | | | disputes in case a couple breaks up. Almost no one |
| cohabitation agreements. There are several sites on | | | | bothers to enlist these articles when signing in to a |
| the internet which have a lot of very sound advice to | | | | live-in relation. And making a list of them, then deciding |
| offer in this regard, as well as help to draw up an | | | | who would own what, can be a practically impossible |
| agreement at a nominal cost. Let us start out with the | | | | job if they want to split. There is no proof of |
| arguments in favour of marriage: 1. If a couple is ready | | | | ownership, of co-ownership, maintenance costs, and |
| to enter into a cohabitation agreement, what was | | | | division of expenses. The confusion created would not |
| wrong with good old marriage? They aim to have the | | | | be possible for a lawyer to solve; ultimately the couple |
| same legal and economical effects on their life through | | | | would have to go by themselves. 6. Inheritance is |
| this; they would share the same house; they would do | | | | another major issue. Unless a careful and clear will is |
| everything in the same way – so where is the | | | | made, and updated, the wrong people would turn out |
| difference? If someone has a problem with the church | | | | to be the winners. This too is an issue where the |
| ceremony, there is always the option of going for a | | | | existing laws need to be rehashed. On the Internet It is |
| civil marriage. 2. A cohabitation agreement is still not as | | | | possible to get the cohabitation agreement on the |
| useful or effective as a marriage. When it comes to | | | | internet too – there are several companies who |
| loans and pensions, the complications are way more | | | | process it for a nominal cost. A couple is advised to |
| – and there is a lingering doubt about every clause | | | | go for it definitely before entering into an unseen |
| when it comes to the property rules. The Law Society | | | | wedlock with each other (cohabitation?). |