Background
On the 8th of February 2017, the Supreme Court passed judgment in favour of cohabitant Denise Brewster, concluding that NILGOSC’s* decision not to award her a survivor’s pension; following the unexpected death of her fiancée, was unlawful.
With over 3.1 million unmarried couples living together in the UK today, compared with 1.5 million back in 1996, it seems more and more of us want to put-off marrying, or avoid marriage completely. Given that fact, it is now more important than ever to appreciate that the way the law affects you can vary quite radically; depending on who you live with, and the nature of your relationship.
When legal problems arise, going to court is seldom the only option. In fact, the courts are more frequently being recognized as a last resort. There exists a myriad of other (often cheaper) ways to resolve disputes, some with surprisingly long histories. Mediation is one such method, helping parents to find their own solutions, rather than having solutions imposed by another.
