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+--- Thread: Marry or Cohabit? (/thread-1458.html)
Marry or Cohabit? - Martin - 31-Jul-2007
quote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6923373.stm
Cohabiting law changes proposed
Couples who are living together should have more legal rights, according to a report by the Law Commission.
It says the 2.2m cohabiting couples in England and Wales should have more protection if they split up.
It does not suggest cohabiting couples get the same rights as married ones, but says they should be able to make a financial claim if they break up.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6923373.stm
This one seems to be a hot topic.
discussion
- muffers - 31-Jul-2007
If you don't make the commitment to marriage then why should you have more legal rights. The fact that marriage is being watered down is one of the reasons that children are in so much trouble today. It's so easy to say 'well its not working, lets move on to the next 'partner'. It's not a dance were you keep changing 'partners' when it gets boring. If things don't alter there will be a time when children don't have any idea who their parents are. Does the law state that you have to put the childs 'real parents sorry partners' name of the certificate.
It's the risk you take if you take that road you break up and who knows what you get. This is much bigger than just getting fanancial settlements.
- shuffy - 01-Aug-2007
I agree Avril,thats whats lacking these days commitment and staying power. Everything is fix it quick or throw it away. We could do with a campaign for children similar to the one there used to be for dogs, you know the one.A dog is for life not just for christmas. Its time people realised that children are a lifelong commitment.
- muffers - 01-Aug-2007
Yes alot of teenagers think babies are such fun, problem is that baby grows up and then what do they do with it. I watch these animal programmes on the tele and I often think how animals are far more caring towards there ofspring than we are. Somehow everything gone wrong and you can see it in todays society. When children can stone an elderly man to death that tells me that we are in a very bad state. Never mind the global warming lets try and fix the problems we have with family life. Starting with the family unit. Husband and Wife....... How does that outdated song go. Love and Marriage, Love and Marriage, Go together like a horse and carriage......
- anacortesdamp - 01-Aug-2007
In the US, at least, there may be some justification for co-habiting couples to get benefits. There are a lot of senior citizens who have lost the first spouse and who have found a new partner for the balance of their lives. There are BIG tax liabilities if they remarry. Unfortunately, there are often significant medical insurance and legal issues.
To grant spousal benefits to people who aren't married, but are in a long-term co-habiting relationship can get around the tax libility issue but still allow one person's medical insurance to cover the "spouse". In the senior situation, without these rights, one partner can't even get into hospital to see the other one because they "aren't close family". They may have been together for years and had no contact with other family members, even if there are any.
I think there are some circumstances where marriage is not possible, but that an extension of spouse-like rights to a long-term cohabiting partner are reasonable and just.
My opinion based on US circumstances. Obviously, the medical insurance angle wouldn't apply in the UK and possibly the tax rules are more forgiving than we have to live with.
Frank
- William R - 02-Aug-2007
Martin, As you say, this is a very "hot" topic to be placed on the Forum.
In a general sense, the attitude of the Local Authority raises more questions and gives no answers. If a spouse dies, the surviving one is able to claim a 25% reduction in Council Tax. Should any person come to live in that property with them, and uses the sddress as their domicile, the reduction in tax is cancelled and the persons living in the house are regarded as living together as a married couple for tax purposes.
There are many such couples who "occupy" a property jointly, sharing some of the running costs, but who do not notify the Authority in order to claim the tax rebate and gain accordingly. BUT, and it is a big but, if the visiting person has claim of any allowance or pension, an address must be provided, and the term of living together as though you were married quickly applies. In particular, this relates to persons receiving pensions or allowances paid into a Bank.
The anomaly here is that if a spouse dies and the vacancy is filled by the spouses relative or close friend, they are regarded as a married couple living together, once it is given as a domicilary address.
With young people working the system, it is a different situation, for which the "moralists" in our midst may be excused for highlighting. My only comment is that when the situation comes, and a person is left alone in a very fragile state, it is difficult to know which way to turn, who is your friend, or who is your critic and where to turn for advice.
Marriage is a contract for life between two people, when that contract ends with the death of one, there is no contract. Critics would do well to remember that and consider seriously what would be their attitude if they were left alone and confused.
As you say, Martin, its a very hot topic, and should not be discussed lightly or friviously, but with understanding and deep thought.
Of course, this can only be my opinion as I see it.. I`m sure the the proverbial will now come my way, but after all its what I think. William R.
- shuffy - 02-Aug-2007
William I agree with you, but I don't think the original topic was aimed at people in that situation, but rather people starting off as families without marrying,at least that was my understanding of it. Maybe I was wrong, in which case I apologise if I have upset anyone.
- noel - 02-Aug-2007
I'm not sure I follow you Bill. My son and his ex girl friend were living together paying full council tax, when she left him his tax dropped to 75%.
- William R - 02-Aug-2007
That`s what I said Noel, single person gets the 25% reduction, or as you put it only pays 75% of full tax. Take someone into the arrangement and you have to pay full tax, married or not.
- Alan Marsden - 03-Aug-2007
Seems there are some 'different' arrangments in the uk, reductions on property taxes for a reduced number of occupants , that must be a uk exclusive !