Over a 15-year period, the report shows that the number of middle-aged cohabiting couples jumped from just 0.7% in 2002 to 3.8% in 2017. Of these people, 30% lived together in 2017, compared to just 12% a decade and a half ago.
More people in late sixties cohabiting
The ONS report also found that last year, around 40,000 people in their late sixties were living together outside of marriage. This figure was just 25,000 in 2016, so a substantial increase in a short space of time. This suggests that despite the perception that older generations have a more traditional view of marriage and relationships, tying the knot is not necessarily a priority for many couples in their sixties and older.
Is middle-age cohabitation rise linked to divorce settlement concerns?
Some experts, such as family law solicitor Ellen Walker speaking in a recent Telegraph article, believe that more people aged 50-64 are choosing to live together rather than marry due to concerns about what happens to shared assets and wealth if they separate.
Walker points to a landmark ruling that took place in 2000 – White v. White – which set a precedent for future cases. This landmark case, involving a divorcing couple with shared assets of over £4.5 million, created a perception that each party can be seen as making an equal contribution to the marriage and that there should be an equal division of assets.
The timing of this ruling may have been crucial in affecting people’s decisions on whether or not to marry in later life. In particular, men of certain wealth who are concerned about signing over half of life-long assets to a partner if the relationship should break down. Walker explains:
"Since the turn of the century, the average age at which people in England and Wales marry has hovered around the mid-thirties.
"That means many middle-aged men in particular who are cohabiting may well have been considering marriage at the time of a landmark legal ruling which established the principle of an equal division of their assets in the event of divorce.
"Compared to that prospect, the lack of legal rights for unmarried partners to claim against each other may have seemed less of a deterrent."
Contact Tracey Miller Family Law for help with later life divorce
If you are facing a divorce in later life, or you want to find out about legal protections outside of marriage such as cohabitation and separation agreements, Wirral divorce lawyer Tracey Miller Family Law can help.
Contact our friendly, professional team on 0151 515 3036 or 07795 060 211 to discuss your circumstances and to receive expert legal advice and support.