The main family law representative body has hit back at Baroness Deech over her criticisms of the proposed cohabitation reforms.
Baroness Deech is the chair of the Bar Standards Board, and she condemned the reforms in the government consultation called ‘A fairer end to relationships.’ These would give unmarried cohabiting couples a number of additional rights and protections that put them on a more equal footing with those who are married or in civil partnerships. Deech slammed them as a form of marriage imposed by the state, but now Resolution has given its backing to them.
This organisation released a statement saying Deech was ignoring the 3 million-plus cohabiting couples that stand to benefit from the reforms. It also rejected her assertion that they constitute a non-consensual imposition of obligations and rights.
Resolution is a sizeable organisation, with a membership of around 6,500. Those members include professionals in all aspects of family law, such as unmarried cohabitation solicitors in North Wales.
Jo Edwards is the Family Law Reform Committee chair for Resolution. According to the Law Gazette, she pointed out that these reforms were in the Labour Party manifesto, so the election victory counts as consent for them.
She also dismissed the idea that they impose the equivalent of marriage on cohabiting partners:
“They simply establish a safety net for relationships which meet clearly defined criteria and rights that would fall far short of those for married couples.”
At Bennett Smith Solicitors, the rights of unmarried cohabiting couples are among our areas of expertise. Contact our solicitors in Porthmadog now.
