Longevity of marriage edges past cohabiting
30th March 2010 by: Deborah Jeff
Married couples are more likely to share a future together when compared to those cohabiting, official figures have revealed.
Analysis of Census results compiled by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that four-fifths of spouses married in 1991 were still together a decade later, compared to three-fifths of cohabiting partners.
The ONS claims that those individuals who are capable and want to be in a long-term relationship are more likely to marry rather than cohabit. Those who are not inclined to stay in long-term relationships prefer to avoid the commitment of marriage.
Studying over 300,000 adults, ONS researchers tracked answers from both the 1991 and 2001 Census, discovering that 39% of cohabiting couples were no longer together and those that survived were now married to each other.
“It shows that marriage is more stable than cohabitation, even when it can appear to be controlling at times for a variety of factors,” an ONS spokesperson said.
The benefits of marriage have become hotly contested in recent years, with laws beginning to reflect the modern, much less stereotypical views of family life and provisions for cohabiting couples frequently debated around Whitehall.
However, marriage rates are at their lowest level since records began in 1862, with just 232,990 weddings taking place in England and Wales during 2008. Many are still unaware of the different laws that apply to married couples compared with cohabiting couples but these should be weighed up very carefully before the relationship becomes formalised by marriage. There are pros and cons to each arrangement so independent legal advice should be sought before any cohabitation or marriage to ensure that both parties are aware of their rights and responsibilities to each other and what would happen in the event of separation. A 30 minute consultation with a solicitor is usually sufficient to be appraised of these different legal arrangements but will provide peace of mind before any major decision is made.
Analysis of Census results compiled by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that four-fifths of spouses married in 1991 were still together a decade later, compared to three-fifths of cohabiting partners.
The ONS claims that those individuals who are capable and want to be in a long-term relationship are more likely to marry rather than cohabit. Those who are not inclined to stay in long-term relationships prefer to avoid the commitment of marriage.
Studying over 300,000 adults, ONS researchers tracked answers from both the 1991 and 2001 Census, discovering that 39% of cohabiting couples were no longer together and those that survived were now married to each other.
“It shows that marriage is more stable than cohabitation, even when it can appear to be controlling at times for a variety of factors,” an ONS spokesperson said.
The benefits of marriage have become hotly contested in recent years, with laws beginning to reflect the modern, much less stereotypical views of family life and provisions for cohabiting couples frequently debated around Whitehall.
However, marriage rates are at their lowest level since records began in 1862, with just 232,990 weddings taking place in England and Wales during 2008. Many are still unaware of the different laws that apply to married couples compared with cohabiting couples but these should be weighed up very carefully before the relationship becomes formalised by marriage. There are pros and cons to each arrangement so independent legal advice should be sought before any cohabitation or marriage to ensure that both parties are aware of their rights and responsibilities to each other and what would happen in the event of separation. A 30 minute consultation with a solicitor is usually sufficient to be appraised of these different legal arrangements but will provide peace of mind before any major decision is made.
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