Partners bill is bad news for cohabiting couples

THE first two-thirds of the Civil Partnership Bill would enable a same-sex couple to have their partnership registered with the state.

The final one-third of the bill plans to set financial rules for two people living together for three years (five, if amended as recent news reports suggest). The bill proposes that if two people separate after those few years together, one could sue the other for regular maintenance money, a lump sum, rights to the house or part of the other person’s future pension.

This would apply whether they have children or not. The only effect of children in the bill is to shorten the qualifying period to two years. You can get maintenance for your children under the law already.