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Who to trust?

21 September 2012
Issue: 7530 / Categories: Features , Property
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The law surrounding cohabitees & trusts of land continues to evolve, says Greg Williams

There are over four million unmarried couples cohabiting in England and Wales. Many of those couples undoubtedly believe in the fallacy of the “common law marriage”. This myth survives because it is erroneously referred to in everyday speech, perhaps perpetuated by the media and application forms for insurance, loans and mortgages.

Decline in marriage

Marriage rates have been in decline for over 30 years. Even those couples who do marry (one can think of a topical Royal example) tend to live together for at least a few years before they tie the knot.
On 9 November 2011, the Supreme Court gave its decision in the landmark case of Kernott v Jones [2011] UKSC 53, [2012] AC 776.

That case provided an opportunity for the Court to revisit the House of Lords’ decision in Stack v Dowden [2007] UKHL 17, [2007] 2 All ER 929.

The outcome of Kernott was widely discussed at the time. It was not lost on the legal

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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