British plan unmarried divorce-like rights

LONDON, June 11 (UPI) -- Britain's law reform body has formulated plans to give cohabitating partners who end their relationships similar rights to divorcing couples.

The Law Commission is planning a reform that will allow men and women to make claims against former partners for monetary payments, property sharing and a cut of their former partner's pension after the separation, The Times of London reported Monday.

Former partners will also be able to make claims for lost wages if they abandon careers to take care of children resulting from the partnership.

The commission isn't expected to exclude childless couples from the new rules or place a limit on the amount of time spent cohabitating. The body also nixed plans for a rule that would require former partners claiming lost wages to prove to the courts that the decision to leave their careers was made jointly.

However, the new rules would require a former partner who is seeking property sharing or monetary payments to prove that the split has caused them financial hardships.