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Cohabitation Rights Bill [HL]
Cohabitation Rights Bill [HL] is currently listed at Committee stage in the House of Lords.
Current position
- Latest completed stage
- 2nd reading17 Jul 2026
- Next stage
- Committee stage
- House
- House of Lords
- Bill type
- Private Members' Bill (Starting in the House of Lords)
- Last updated
- 21 Jul 2026
- Proposer / sponsor
- Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames Proposer / sponsor · Liberal Democrat · House of Lords Prepared for future MP profile links
What this bill is about
The Cohabitation Rights Bill [HL] would set out protections for couples who live together (or have lived together), particularly when a relationship ends or when one partner dies. It would provide a court route for a financial settlement in certain circumstances, with an option for cohabitants to agree to opt out. It also proposes changes affecting cohabitants’ rights in relation to inheritance under intestacy rules and insurable interest, and would apply to qualifying couples defined by time in the relationship and/or having a dependent child.
What it would do
- Would create a framework of rights for some cohabiting couples after relationship breakdown or a cohabitant’s death.
- Would allow eligible cohabitants to apply to a court for a financial settlement order for economic disadvantage or benefit redress.
- Would allow eligible cohabitants to opt out of the financial settlement provisions if they both agree.
- Would seek to provide rights relating to intestacy succession and insurable interest, similar to those for married or civil partnered couples.
Bill journey
Matched Commons vote groups are shown inside the relevant stage where the stored dates allow a match.
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1st reading 5 Jun 2026 · House of Lords
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2nd reading 17 Jul 2026 · House of Lords
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Published daily summaries where this bill appears in the day’s parliamentary or government business.