Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to launch a consultation on cohabitation law reform.

The Government published its consultation, “A Fairer End to Relationships”, on Friday 5 June.

This consultation proposes some of the biggest reforms to family law in decades, bringing the law into the 21st century and increasing protection for millions.

The consultation seeks views on building a legal framework for cohabitants, one that reflects the realities of modern family life and safeguards the most vulnerable. Over 3.5 million couples live together without getting married or entering a civil partnership, a number that has more than doubled over the past three decades. Despite this, cohabiting couples and their children have very limited financial protection should a relationship end.

In our manifesto, we committed to strengthening the rights and protections available to women in cohabiting couples as part of our wider ambition to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. The consultation is the first step towards reform.

The consultation will remain open until 14 August 2026, and is available at: A fairer end to relationships - GOV.UK.