Birkett Long supports Resolution Awareness Week 2023

The Birkett Long Divorce and Family Team are supporting Resolution Awareness Week 2023, which runs from 27 November to 1 December 2023. 

What is this week about?

This annual campaign was initiated by Resolution – a community of over 6,500 family justice professionals who work with families and individuals to resolve issues constructively. 

All the Birkett Long Divorce and Family team lawyers are Resolution members. We are committed to the Resolution Code of Practice that promotes a non-confrontational approach to family issues and considers the needs of the whole family, particularly the best interests of children.

This year is Resolution’s 40th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, they will publish a new Vision for Family Justice, setting out the changes they would like to be made to the family justice system. Crucially, it will highlight the need for a change to the law for unmarried couples, as well as early access to legal advice and ways to ease the burden on the family courts.

What is new? How has it evolved?

For 40 years, Resolution members have been supporting couples to reduce conflict, creating more amicable, long-lasting solutions that would benefit them and any children they may have.

In the past, in what was known as ‘Good Divorce Week’, Resolution campaigned successfully for no fault divorce, allowing couples to separate without having to apportion blame. Following the introduction of no fault divorce in April 2022, the focus has changed with a drive to raise awareness of the issues affecting cohabiting couples and the need for reform.

The need for reform of cohabitation law

Cohabiting couples may make up the fastest growing family type, but this is not reflected in the law. Currently, the law does not recognise cohabiting couples in the same way as those who are married or in a civil partnership. Unmarried couples are not afforded the same legal protection as their married counterparts. Due to the lack of rights for cohabiting couples, there is a significant financial risk for those who are unmarried if their relationship ends or their partner dies, especially if they have yet to sign a Cohabitation Agreement with their partner.

What will Birkett Long be doing to support this?

To support Resolution Awareness Week, the Divorce and Family Team at Birkett Long will be sharing a series of helpful blogs and articles on the following topics:

1. The importance of Cohabitation Agreements
2. The need for legal reform for cohabiting couples
3. The law relating to cohabiting couples
4. The rights of cohabiting partners

We will also be offering a free 15 minute telephone call to anyone contemplating or already involved in the unfortunate breakdown of an unmarried relationship to explain how we can assist in helping to resolve the financial and children issues that may arise from their separation and the legal issues that apply.  

The importance of Cohabitation Agreements

We will also be explaining the importance of Cohabitation Agreements and how we can help prepare these for you and your unmarried partner to sign so that you can try to limit the potential difficulties that may arise in the future if your cohabiting relationship, unfortunately, breaks down.

To find out more, please get in touch. I can be contacted on 01206 217378 or via email at shelley.cumbers@birkettlong.co.uk.