De Facto Relationships: A Comparative Guide

While marriage for centuries was considered the only acceptable family form, societal changes around the globe have increasingly challenged its hegemony. This book focuses on the legal recognition and regulation of ‘de facto relationships’, here understood to be couples in an intimate and committed relationship which is not formalised. In many Western jurisdictions, such relationships have become the fastest growing family form, and increasing numbers of children are now being born to unmarried parents. This Comparative Guide is a global study of the laws relating to de facto relationships that explores the qualifying or definitional criteria for such unions alongside the substantive laws applicable during the relationship, upon separation, in case of death and in relation to the parent-child relationship.

Key features:

• Provides comprehensive jurisdiction-specific reports on the legal regulation of de facto relationships across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America
• Discusses existing regulations in their national contexts, highlighting shortcomings and need for further reforms
• Concludes with a comparative analysis of the existing models and offers comparative observations for law reform

The book is a valuable resource for family and succession law practitioners, policymakers as well as scholars and students in the field of family law, succession law and comparative law.