Preparing for change: proposed reforms for cohabiting couples
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In Financial Reporter, Partner, Emily Brand, explores the Government’s proposed reforms to the law governing cohabiting couples and the potential implications for financial advisers and their clients.
The proposed reforms could create new legal rights for qualifying unmarried couples, with significant consequences for financial planning, inheritance and the division of assets if a relationship ends.
Emily highlights the importance of early planning and open conversations between cohabiting couples, particularly as advisers may need to take a broader approach when considering clients’ personal and financial circumstances. She also considers the potential impact of reform on estate planning, noting that changes could provide greater protection for surviving cohabiting partners while creating new considerations for those seeking to structure their affairs effectively.
She further explores the continuing distinction between cohabiting and married couples for tax purposes, including inheritance tax and capital gains tax treatment, and explains why financial advisers should be encouraging clients to review their arrangements and prepare for possible legislative change.
The full article was published by Financial Reporter in August 2026.
