Couples that live together for 3 years to become automatically (almost) married

fergalr · 04-12-2009 03:15AM #1

The bill currently going through the Dail also contains a clause, that will mean couples (whether heterosexual or homosexual) that have lived together for more than 3 years will be de-facto married.

If, for example, a boyfriend and girlfriend live together for over 3 years, and then break up, one partner can appeal for compensation and claims on the others assets, like in marriage.

Things like contributions to the family home, affect on earning potential, and so on all come into play, when calculating compensation, just like in marriage.

No one is really talking about this, because much of the discussion on the issue is caused by homosexual rights groups. But its worth paying attention to, especially if you are in a long term relationship. The state is deciding your relationship will now feature many of the responsibilities of a marriage, without any action on your part.

This is automatic, and can't be stopped from happening, if you live together.

The Bill also, separately, establishes a redress scheme for cohabitants, whether opposite-sex or same-sex. This is activated only on termination of the relationship whether by break-up or bereavement.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1204/1224260043897.html

Its also in the bill itself for all to read.

Thoughts on this?

Senna · 04-12-2009 03:17AM

Isn't this just common-law partner, which is a legal status in most other countries.
Its very different to the status of a married couple.

minidazzler · 04-12-2009 03:18AM

Haha, Long term couples = Pwned!!

cloneslad · 04-12-2009 03:20AM

been with my girlfriend for 5 years now, lived with her for most of it too. If we were to break up and it was my fault I would deserve it, if she screwed me over I would be in prison for murdering her and her new guy, o.j. simpson style too cut up and upset to care about money.

Doc · 04-12-2009 03:21AM

What if I live with a female flatemate for 3 years dose she get half?

fergalr · 04-12-2009 03:26AM

Doc wrote: »

What if I live with a female flatemate for 3 years dose she get half?

You would both have to go to court if she claimed you had been in a relationship. It says that unless you are closely related, it applies and no proof of a sexual relationship is required. So, potentially.

Imagine it would probably get sorted in court, but could be a pain. IANAL though.

Senna · 04-12-2009 03:26AM

Doc wrote: »

What if I live with a female flatemate for 3 years dose she get half?

No, she gets five eights.

Snowie · 04-12-2009 03:46AM

sounds kinda dumb

starbelgrade · 04-12-2009 03:52AM

Cripes - is it not bad enough having to live with them without this sh*t hanging over your head?! :eek:

sceptre · 04-12-2009 03:57AM

On the plus side, at least no-one will have to get themselves pregnant to get a legal status with you hot things. Let's remember there's often a silver lining - you can all continue to browse AH uninterrupted at night.

K-9 · 04-12-2009 04:27AM

Eventually if look at a girls boobies you'll have to giver her half of everything you own.

Redtube isn't free!

AlmightyCushion · 04-12-2009 04:31AM

fergalr wrote: »

You would both have to go to court if she claimed you had been in a relationship. It says that unless you are closely related, it applies and no proof of a sexual relationship is required. So, potentially.

Imagine it would probably get sorted in court, but could be a pain. IANAL though.

You anal? I fail to see what this has to do with anything but I will note that for future reference.

kowloon · 04-12-2009 04:39AM

Given that I'm a student and own very little, this could turn out quite well for me, all I have to do is find a rich businesswoman who'll fund me for three years and lets me screw her over.

smk89 · 04-12-2009 04:57AM

I know a few couples who have two rooms (good apperances for parents). Does this apply to them?

Bottle_of_Smoke · 04-12-2009 04:57AM

is this actually true?

Pdfile · 04-12-2009 10:26AM

was the pope a nazi ?

all the stars · 04-12-2009 10:42AM

Mental..

Understand if kids are involved maybe it protects them...

But sure, i am not married and im a bit insulted that someone else gets to tell me i am ( without providing me & my family a day out)
Thats kinda ****e..

So, leeson people, break up every 2.5 years and move em out.

Smyth · 04-12-2009 10:50AM

What a load of ****. How dare the state decide something like that. What's the likelyhood of this actually being passed?

I'd say this has something deeper to do with taxes, welfare and the like.

Kradock · 04-12-2009 10:58AM

I know some women that will have more marriages than liz Taylor. There are a few living in areas around me the council have installed revolving front doors.

Odats · 04-12-2009 11:02AM

What happens if somebody is married leaves the spouse not legally seperated/divorced and moves in with another person. Does the married spouse override the cohabiting person. Based on logic you legally cannot have two spouses. I presume it would be an interpretation for the courts.

Prof.Badass · 04-12-2009 11:05AM

Will men in such relationships have the same rights towards their own children as married men?

Might be some sort of silver lining to this idiotic piece of legislation.

Cuddlesworth · 04-12-2009 11:45AM

Smyth wrote: »

What a load of ****. How dare the state decide something like that. What's the likelyhood of this actually being passed?

I'd say this has something deeper to do with taxes, welfare and the like.

What's the likelihood of a law that outlaws blasphemy. Or a law that outlaws buying booze for use at home past 10pm or on religious days? Although I will admit one thing, they are consistent in making each one more retarded then the last.

AnonoBoy · 04-12-2009 11:49AM

So I live with a guy that scratches himself all the time, is mostly stoned and whose idea of dressing up is just putting on pants for once.

We've shared a house for 4 years.

Am I his wife now?

WindSock · 04-12-2009 11:53AM

It is good news for me and my non-EU citizen felladude

consultech · 04-12-2009 11:53AM

AnonoBoy wrote: »

So I live with a guy that scratches himself all the time, is mostly stoned and whose idea of dressing up is just putting on pants for once.

We've shared a house for 4 years.

Am I his wife now?

Not sure. You've just admitted who wears the pants in your relationship though (him, ever so occasionally, apparently)!

Euro_Kraut · 04-12-2009 12:03PM

vinylmesh wrote: »

Might be some sort of silver lining to this idiotic piece of legislation.

Did you read the legislation before deciding that?

Ponster · 04-12-2009 12:18PM

fergalr wrote: »

The bill currently going through the Dail also contains a clause, that will mean couples (whether heterosexual or homosexual) that have lived together for more than 3 years will be de-facto married.rights groups.

Its also in the bill itself for all to read.

I can't find it in the bill. Can you tell me what page it's on? (

http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/bills/2009/4409/b4409d.pdf

The_Minister · 04-12-2009 12:23PM

Ponster wrote: »

I can't find it in the bill. Can you tell me what page it's on? (

http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/bills/2009/4409/b4409d.pdf

It's not too hard to find, it's the third part of the part relating to co-habitants.

EDIT: Definition of co-habitents

170.—(1) For the purposes of this Part, a cohabitant is one of 2
adults (whether of the same or the opposite sex) who live together
as a couple in an intimate and committed relationship and who are 15
not related to each other within the prohibited degrees of relationship
or married to each other or civil partners of each other.
(2) In determining whether or not 2 adults are cohabitants, the
court shall take into account all the circumstances of the relationship
and in particular shall have regard to the following: 20
(a) the duration of the relationship;
(b) the basis on which the couple live together;
(c) the degree of financial dependence of either adult on the
other and any agreements in respect of their finances;
(d) the degree and nature of any financial arrangements 25
between the adults including any joint purchase of an
estate or interest in land or joint acquisition of personal
property;
(e) whether there are one or more dependent children;
(f) whether one of the adults cares for and supports the chil- 30
dren of the other; and
(g) the degree to which the adults present themselves to
others as a couple.
(3) For the avoidance of doubt a relationship does not cease to
be an intimate relationship for the purpose of this section merely 35
because it is no longer sexual in nature.
(4) For the purposes of this section, 2 adults are within a prohibited
degree of relationship if—
(a) they would be prohibited from marrying each other in the
State, or 40
(b) they are in a relationship referred to in the Third Schedule
to the Civil Registration Act 2004 inserted by section 26
of this Act.
86
(5) For the purposes of this Part, a qualified cohabitant means an
adult who was in a relationship of cohabitation with another adult
and who, immediately before the time that that relationship ended,
whether through death or otherwise, was living with the other adult
5 as a couple for a period—
(a) of 2 years or more, in the case where they are the parents
of one or more dependent children, and
(b) of 3 years or more, in any other case.
(6) Notwithstanding subsection (5), an adult who would otherwise
10 be a qualified cohabitant is not a qualified cohabitant if—
(a) one or both of the adults is or was, at any time during
the relationship concerned, an adult who was married to
someone else, and
(b) at the time the relationship concerned ends, each adult
15 who is or was married has not lived apart from his or her
spouse for a period or periods of at least 4 years during
the previous 5 years.

AnonoBoy · 04-12-2009 12:25PM

consultech wrote: »

Not sure. You've just admitted who wears the pants in your relationship though (him, ever so occasionally, apparently)!

Well I'm the only one who ever cleans up so if the dress fits, eh?

Ponster · 04-12-2009 12:29PM

The_Minister wrote: »

It's not too hard to find, it's the third part of the part relating to co-habitants.

EDIT: Definition of co-habitents

Nothing in there says that a couple who are living together for 3 years automatically become a civil couple though ? (what am I not seeing)

Part 1 specificity refers to the fact that the couple must apply to the court to have the partnership recognised.

The_Minister · 04-12-2009 12:31PM

Ponster wrote: »

Nothing in there says that a couple who are living together for 3 years automatically become a civil couple though ? (what am I not seeing)

Part 1 specificity refers to the fact that the couple must apply to the court to have the partnership recognised.

I'm still wading through it, but if you read further there seems to be scope for the order to be granted regardless of that. (could be wrong, will get back on this.).

Couples that live together for 3 years to become automatically (almost) married

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