Together forever?

Though the infectious romantic atmosphere created by the recent Royal Wedding may have given a brief boost to the institution of marriage, an increasing number of people are now choosing not to marry. Indeed, marriage is at its lowest rates since records began in 1862 as more and more people choose to cohabit instead.

Cynics often cite the headline grabbing figures in divorce cases and London’s reputation as being “the divorce capital of the world” as part of the reason for this decline as wealthy would-be-spouses seek to jealously guard their financial resources. However, that cannot be the full picture as a recent survey carried out by the matrimonial department at Charles Russell LLP showed that 56% of adults in England and Wales believed that the concept of a “common law” husband or wife has legal recognition and so gives right to a formal claim for financial support from the other in the event of subsequent separation.

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