| A marriage, once finalised, was a holy | | | | The Law Society has confessed that the rules |
| affair, and it was considered a sin to break | | | | pertaining to cohabitation are unfair and |
| it up. In the UK, about three quarters of all | | | | messy. It started out to reform the rules, |
| marriages are ending in divorce. Cohabitation | | | | didn't reach a solution after a report was |
| seems to be gaining popularity, as the number | | | | published six years later, and in 2002 had |
| of couples living out of marriage has | | | | started with the process again. 3. Annulment |
| skyrocketed. A survey revealed that most | | | | of the cohabitation agreement is also |
| people between 25 - 40 years of age no more | | | | problematic. Any vagueness in the terms can |
| believe in marriage as an infallible | | | | make it null and void in the eyes of the law, |
| institution. In fact, a sizeable portion of | | | | and then the couple would be left by |
| them have got married themselves, as they | | | | themselves to keep on fighting. Some have |
| felt it would be an appropriate gesture. | | | | likened the cohabitation agreement to a |
| Since the meaning of marriage itself has | | | | prenuptial deed. Both these documents are |
| changed, many social scientists are beginning | | | | unfortunately drawn by people who are very |
| to look upon cohabitation as a form of | | | | much in love, and not thinking of moving away |
| evolved marriage. And, if we take God's | | | | from each other. Therefore, the clauses |
| original idea into consideration, it would be | | | | aren't clearly mentioned and property |
| better to go for an arrangement where one | | | | division is not meticulously done. 4. |
| would not part, even if it means 'living in | | | | Children might face a major disadvantage if a |
| sin'. The Guardian newspaper carried an | | | | cohabitating couple splits up. It would be |
| article about a single mom in the 1980's who | | | | way more complicated if the man is not the |
| had voiced her opinion on being a lone parent | | | | biological father, or- and this is the worst |
| - but seemed to have the same moral makeup | | | | case- the woman is a 'stepmom'. The |
| about 'illegitimate children', 'living in | | | | ex-spouses from previous marriages can also |
| sin' etc. This is a strange time for Britain, | | | | step in around this time and get things |
| as there are changes happening very fast, but | | | | royally messed up. 5. Small and movable |
| no one can afford to stand and analyse | | | | property, i.e., furniture, car, computer, |
| things. The Advantages of Cohabitation There | | | | mementos - can be the reason of the greatest |
| are several pleas on behalf of marriage | | | | disputes in case a couple breaks up. Almost |
| against cohabitation agreements. There are | | | | no one bothers to enlist these articles when |
| several sites on the internet which have a | | | | signing in to a live-in relation. And making |
| lot of very sound advice to offer in this | | | | a list of them, then deciding who would own |
| regard, as well as help to draw up an | | | | what, can be a practically impossible job if |
| agreement at a nominal cost. Let us start out | | | | they want to split. There is no proof of |
| with the arguments in favour of marriage: 1. | | | | ownership, of co-ownership, maintenance |
| If a couple is ready to enter into a | | | | costs, and division of expenses. The |
| cohabitation agreement, what was wrong with | | | | confusion created would not be possible for a |
| good old marriage? They aim to have the same | | | | lawyer to solve; ultimately the couple would |
| legal and economical effects on their life | | | | have to go by themselves. 6. Inheritance is |
| through this; they would share the same | | | | another major issue. Unless a careful and |
| house; they would do everything in the same | | | | clear will is made, and updated, the wrong |
| way - so where is the difference? If someone | | | | people would turn out to be the winners. This |
| has a problem with the church ceremony, there | | | | too is an issue where the existing laws need |
| is always the option of going for a civil | | | | to be rehashed. On the Internet It is |
| marriage. 2. A cohabitation agreement is | | | | possible to get the cohabitation agreement on |
| still not as useful or effective as a | | | | the internet too - there are several |
| marriage. When it comes to loans and | | | | companies who process it for a nominal cost. |
| pensions, the complications are way more - | | | | A couple is advised to go for it definitely |
| and there is a lingering doubt about every | | | | before entering into an unseen wedlock with |
| clause when it comes to the property rules. | | | | each other (cohabitation?). |