In 2014 I created the website Men shouldn’t marry. Maybe I should change it to Men shouldn’t marry or cohabit.

The Ministry of Justice CONsultation “A fairer end to relationships” opened on 5 June 2026 and closed three days ago. As always with such matters, women in general and feminists in particular would have been the vast majority of respondents – although it wouldn’t matter even if this were not the case, because the government will inevitably toe the feminist line and assault the legitimate interests of men. ‘Twas ever thus.

Osbornes Law recently published Cohabiting Couples and the Law: What the 2026 Reforms Could Change. The full content of the section “What could you claim if you separate?”:

“The proposed remedies are narrower than those available on divorce. The likely starting point is that each person keeps what they legally own, with the court stepping in only to meet defined needs rather than to share assets equally. [J4MB: I should be astonished if ‘the likely starting point’ was the end point in anything but a vanishingly small proportion of cases. Courts will always do all in their power to rob men on behalf of women.]

Key features of the proposed scheme include:

• A focus on a clean break, ending financial ties between the couple as soon as it is fair to do so.
• Needs assessed more narrowly than on divorce.
• Maintenance limited to exceptional and time-limited situations, such as a long-term health problem.
• The needs of any children coming first.

In short, the reforms would offer a safety net rather than an equal split. They are designed to prevent serious unfairness, for example where one partner gave up a career to raise children or supported the other’s business, rather than to give cohabitants the full range of claims a spouse has. If you have children and are separating from a partner you were not married to, our guide on splitting up when you are unmarried with children explains where you stand under the current law.”

The full content of the section “What you can do now to protect yourself”:

“You do not have to wait for the law to change. There are clear steps you can take today to protect yourself and your partner.

• Make a cohabitation agreement. This records what you have agreed about property, finances and what happens if you separate. Our guide to cohabitation agreements explains how they work. [J4MB: I doubt these agreements will be legally binding on the courts, so (as with prenup and postnup agreements currently) they will disregard them.]
• Make a will. This is the single most important step for unmarried couples. Without a will, your partner may inherit nothing if you die. A will lets you provide for them now, regardless of any future reform.
• Sort out how you own your home. If you own property together, a declaration of trust sets out each person’s share and can prevent costly disputes later.

Taking these steps now gives you certainty, whatever happens with the proposed reforms.”

All this begs the question of what will happen if a partner (usually the woman) refuses to sign a cohabitation agreement or declaration of trust. The answer for the man in many (most?) cases is obvious – stop cohabiting. Explain to the woman in your life that she can take her complaints to Andy Burnham.

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