The Office for National Statistics recent ‘Focus on Families’ survey showed that between 1996 and 2006 the number of couples cohabiting increased by 65 per cent. The number of couples marrying declined in the same period by 4 per cent.

The financial advising firm Best Invest report that the growing trend for couples to live together without a marriage contract may lead them to financial problems in later life.

Kelvin Lillywhite of Best Invest explained that many cohabiting couples may not be fully covered by their life insurance policy.

He continued to say that is it common for couples who live together to draw up a legal agreement that specifies how shared possessions will be divided up if the relationship broke up.

He said that such an agreement does not “extend to the so-called common-law husband”. Adding: “If he died would his pension company pay benefits to this woman who is saying that she is his common-law wife? No, they would not. They’re not required to.”

The problem is that insurance firms are not obliged to recognise a partner who is not legally bound to the life insured by a marriage contact.

For further details on life insurance and to compare life insurance , please visit Life insurance articles.