If you are an unmarried parent, the cohabitation reforms proposed in June 2026 are worth understanding, but they do not change the basic law on who your children live with or spend time with. On 5 June 2026, the Ministry of Justice launched A fairer end to relationships, a consultation on financial remedies, cohabiting couples and inheritance rights.
The proposals are mainly about money, property and protection when an unmarried relationship ends or one partner dies without a will. Child arrangements are different. They are still dealt with under the Children Act 1989, where the child’s welfare is the court’s paramount consideration. Marriage is not the test. Parental responsibility, the child’s needs and safe, workable arrangements matter more.
For practical child arrangement services, the key point is simple: the consultation may affect future financial claims between unmarried partners, but it does not stop you making arrangements for your children now.
What was proposed in June 2026?
The consultation opened on 5 June 2026 and closes on 14 August 2026. It looks at three linked areas: financial remedies on divorce and civil partnership dissolution, possible financial claims for eligible cohabitants who separate, and inheritance rights where a cohabiting partner dies without a will.
For cohabitants, the government proposes a narrower framework than divorce. The consultation suggests eligibility for adults in long-term, committed and interdependent relationships who have lived together for at least 3 years, or who live together and share a child. Couples would also be able to opt out, subject to safeguards.
These are proposals only. No new cohabitation law has taken effect yet. The government says consultation responses will inform future legislation, which will be introduced when parliamentary time allows.
What does this mean for unmarried parents?
The proposed cohabitation framework may matter if you are arguing about housing, money or financial support after separation. It does not decide child contact.
| Issue | Does marriage decide it? | What matters |
|---|---|---|
| A mother’s parental responsibility | No | A birth mother has it automatically |
| An unmarried father’s parental responsibility | Sometimes | In England and Wales, it can be gained by being named on the birth certificate for births registered from 1 December 2003, by agreement or by court order |
| Who the child lives with | No | The child’s welfare and practical arrangements |
| Time spent with each parent | No | Safety, stability and the child’s best interests |
| Applying for a child arrangement order | No | Married and unmarried parents use the same route |
| Financial claims between partners | Potentially | This is the area the June 2026 proposals may change |
Government guidance on parental responsibility explains who has it and how it can be obtained. If you are unsure has it and how it can be obtained. where you stand, check this early before making decisions about school, medical treatment, travel or relocation.
Why this does not change child arrangements
If parents separate, the starting point is not whether they were married. It is what arrangement is best for the child. A clear plan for child arrangements after separation can cover where the child lives, how often they see each parent, handovers, holidays, school routines and communication.
It also helps to understand what child arrangement services are and how they work. The aim is usually to reduce conflict, improve communication and keep arrangements child-focused. In practice, putting children first is far more useful than arguing about labels such as “cohabitant”, “ex-partner” or “unmarried parent”.
What unmarried parents should do now
If you agree on arrangements, put them in writing. That may be enough for many families. If you cannot agree, mediation is usually the first step unless an exemption applies. Our guide to how child arrangement services work alongside mediation explains how support can sit around that process.
If agreement is still not possible, either parent can apply for a child arrangement order. Fathers who are unsure about their position can read about court ordered contact services for fathers, while both parents can use child arrangement services for parents to prepare.
Where there are safety concerns, contact may need structure. Supervised visitation or private child contact supervision can help children spend time with a parent while risks are managed.
Where to get help
The cohabitation proposals may improve financial protection for unmarried couples in time, but they do not replace the current child arrangements framework. If you want help arranging contact, preparing for court, understanding your responsibilities under a contact order or checking whether it can be changed, speak to the team at Child Arrangement Resolutions today.