Rights of cohabiting couples
Information
Cohabitants are defined in the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 as two same-sex or opposite-sex adults who are:
- Not married to each other and
- Not in a registered civil partnership and
- Not related within the prohibited degrees of relationship (broadly speaking, relationships which would make them ineligible to marry each other) and
- Living together in an intimate and committed relationship
Cohabitants (cohabiting couples) do not possess the same legal rights and obligations as married couples or civil partnerships. Given the limited legal recognition of your relationshipship, this will obviously have some significant implications for various parts of your life.
This section aims to guide you through the various issues associated with living in a cohabiting relationship in Ireland. You will find out about the rights and entitlements of cohabitants in a range of areas such as:
Language
Useful Resources
Related Documents
- Relationships and your rights in Ireland
Information on your legal and civil rights in relationships with a focus on cohabiting relationships, marriage, the status of same-sex relationships and the rights of grandparents. - Rights of same-sex couples
Same-sex couples in Ireland cannot become legally married. Check the formal rules that may affect their relationships. - Redress scheme for cohabiting couples
Under the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 a redress scheme has been introduced for opposite-sex and same-sex cohabiting couples.
Contact Us
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.