Cohabitation: Law, Practice and Precedents

CLEAR, AUTHORITATIVE GUIDANCE FOR LEGAL PRACTITIONERS ON ALL ASPECTS OF COHABITATIONAn appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister” and MediatorPeople seeking the closeness of a live-in relationship unhampered by what they perceive to be the complications of marriage, should take a quick look at this long-established and authoritative legal text about cohabitation.This new eighth edition from LexisNexis (including a CD for precedents) has evolved -- since the first edition was published -- into a substantial tome of almost 900 pages. Yes, it is almost four inches thick and weighs half a ton -- if you will excuse the very slight exaggeration.The table of contents alone is thirty-six pages long -- and there is a thirty-four-page index; both detailed and useful as navigational tools to help readers track down whatever subject area they are looking for. Fortunately, the latest developments within this now enormous and enormously complex area of law are incorporated in this edition, together with analyses of important case law. Obviously, the sheer weight of this volume reflects the continuing increase in cohabitation with its current level now hovering around 50%.Leading the editorial team of six experts in this field is District Judge Helen Wood who explains that ‘the aim of this book is to assist practitioners when dealing with the particular requirements of those who are neither married nor in a civil partnership.’ The other editors are James Cook, Lisette Dupre, Ashley Murray, David Slater, and Emily Ward.Such requirements of course, are inevitably detailed and difficult, encompassing well-nigh every aspect of life as we know it, from property, finance, investments, living expenses and taxation, to remedies for various wrongs such as harassment. And there is more -- including a detailed chapter on children matters, another on death and succession -- and still others on pension rights, pre-nuptial agreements and welfare benefits, to cite only a few examples.Not surprisingly, this important work of reference contains precedents, checklists and extensive tables of cases, statutes, statutory instruments, and international material. Noteworthy for its clarity as well as authority, ‘Cohabitation’ has established itself as essential reading for all legal practitioners -- family lawyers especially -- charged with advising cohabitants at every stage of their relationship.The date of publication of this hardback eighth edition is cited as 28th July 2020. The law is stated as at 31st March 2020.