‘Cohabitants’ in the Law of England and Wales: a Brief Introduction

This chapter focusses on the legal position of cohabitants in English law, noting that these non-legally recognised couples are the fastest growing family type. It discusses the nature and the legal status of these relationships, and the lack of a coherent set of laws regulating them, instead requiring couples to hunt in various corners of the law in search of rights, duties and other legal provisions which are applicable to them.