Lords debates Cohabitation Rights Bill
18 March 2019
Members of the Lords, including the Shadow Attorney General and a former director of the Mansion House Group, discussed the key principles and purpose of the Cohabitation Rights Bill during second reading, on 15 March.
This is a private member's bill. A private member's bill is a type of public bill (that affects the public). Private members' bills must go through the same set of procedures as other public bills.
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Members discussed a range of subjects covered by the bill, including:
- the enablement of the courts to adjust the financial position of cohabitants whose relationship has ended
- the definition of cohabitants as either a same-sex or opposite-sex couple who have lived together for three years and/or have at least one child together
- the legal right of cohabitant siblings to form a civil partnership
Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Conservative), government whip, responded on behalf of the government.
Committee stage, the first chance for line-by-line scrutiny, is yet to be scheduled.
Cohabitation Rights Bill summary
This bill will aim to:
- provide certain protections for persons who live, or have lived, together as a cohabitant couple
- define the law regarding the property of a deceased person who are survived by a cohabitant
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