A recent Scottish Government survey has revealed that 42.3% of adults in Dundee describe themselves as “never-married singles”.
The Scottish Government’s Scottish Surveys Core Questions pooled data from three major surveys and questioned more than 21,000 Scots, making it one of the largest surveys of its kind. One of the objectives of the survey is to unearth “unprecedented” details about Scottish family lives.
The major Scottish cities followed the same trend as in Dundee with 47.2% of Glaswegian adults and 41.8% of Aberdonian adults being unmarried. Edinburgh was found to be at 41.7% and West Dunbartonshire at 37.2%.
It is thought that the group who described themselves as “never-married singles” will include a substantial number of cohabiting couples.
Marriage rates have been falling across the UK as numbers of cohabiting couples continues to rise. The Office for National Statistics has estimated that there are 6 million cohabiting couples in the UK who now account for 16.4% of all families in the country. Numbers of cohabiting couples have doubled since 1996 and this rise is expected to continue into the future.
Although there is no such thing as ‘common law marriage’ in the UK, 58% of people questioned by a 2006 British Social Attitudes Survey believed that cohabiting couples probably or definitely gained the same legal rights as a married couple over time.
Cohabitation Claims
Although the law does not go as far as granting the same legal rights as a married couple enjoy, the Family Law (Scotland) 2006 Act did respond to the changes in Scottish family life by extending cohabitants rights.
The 2006 Act makes a rebuttable presumption that all household goods acquired during the period of cohabitation will be split equally. This does not include gifts, household pets, inheritances, money or motor vehicles.
The legislation makes it possible for a cohabitant to make a claim upon the other party to the cohabitation. The court can consider whether one party has suffered an economic disadvantage in the interest of their former partner or children. The court can consider if one former partner subsequently enjoyed an economic advantage due to the other’s contributions. The court can also make an order for a payment to be made to cover the future cost of caring for a child.
Cohabitation Agreement
A cohabitation agreement can help to protect your money and property from a future breakdown in your relationship.
Moving in with your partner is a huge step in your relationship. It is an exciting time and the last thing you want to plan for is your break up.
However, a cohabitation agreement could save you a lot of unnecessary stress, pain and uncertainty in the event that you do separate in the future. A break up is already a difficult enough time without factoring in cohabitation claims and court fees.
A cohabitation agreement can be settled with the help of a family lawyer and then you can put it out of mind and look forward to living together.
Cohabitation Lawyer Dundee
Family Law Dundee is operated on behalf of Kathleen McCarthy. Kathleen is an approachable and highly experienced family solicitor who does all she can to protect her client’s interests.
Call us on 01382234348 or contact us online.
