The UK government announced a package of family‑law reforms that would grant automatic inheritance rights to cohabiting couples when a partner dies intestate. The proposals, unveiled by Justice Secretary David Lammy, also seek to make pre‑ and post‑nuptial agreements binding and to give courts greater weight to domestic abuse when dividing assets.

3.5 million cohabitants could gain intestate inheritance rights

Under the draft measures,any couple that has lived together for at least three years or shares a child would be presumed to be in an "enduring family relationship" and thus entitled to a share of the deceased partner’s estate if no will exists. The Ministry of Justice estimates that more than 3.5 million unmarried partners stand to benefit, reducing the likelihood that they are left without financial support at a time of grief.

New property‑division rules target couples who separate after three years

If a cohabiting pair splits, each partner could claim a portion of the proceeds from a house sale,a change the government says reflects modern living arangements. The reforms would require courts to assess the length of cohabitation and any shared children before awarding a share, a departure from current rules that leave many separated partners with nothing.

Domestic‑abuse considerations to influence financial settlements

The proposals ask courts to give greater weight to evidence of controlling, coercive or economic abuse when allocating assets, whether the parties are married or cohabiting. Sam Smethers, chief executive of Surviving Economic Abuse , welcomed the move, calling it "a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity" to protect survivors who lack marital status.

Pre‑ and post‑nuptial agreements to become legally binding on divorce

Currently, such agreements are persuasive but not decisive in court. The new rules would make them enforceable provided they are entered into freely, with full financial disclosure, and are deemed fair . Melanie Bataillard‑Samuel, chair of Resolution, highlighted that this could curb financial exploitation after break‑ups, especially for those without marriage certificates.

Consultation runs until 14 August; government says reforms balance tradition and modernity

The Ministry of Justice has opened a public consultation,inviting lawyers, charities and the wider public to comment . As David Lammy stated, "When a relationship comes to an end, each partner should have the support and certainty they need to rebuild their life." The government will review the feedback before drafting legislation, noting that parliamentary time will dictate the final timetable.