Last week Penny Scott, the chairwoman of the Law Society of England and Wales Family Law Committee, said it is “vital” that the myths around "common law" marriage rights are dispelled. "Common law" marriage has no legal status and if the couple decides to separate, the division of finances, property and debts can be complicated.”

It’s now eleven years since the Law Commission recommended that action is taken to give cohabiting couples greater protection should their relationship end, yet we are still without change. It is often women who are most affected by the commercial reality that when their relationship ends, they a...