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Proceeding contribution from Baroness Butler-Sloss (Crossbench) in the House of Lords on Thursday, 30 April 2009. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Cohabitation Bill [HL].


Cohabitation Bill [HL]

I wonder if I would be forgiven for saying that the current law in relation to footballers’ wives comes under the Matrimonial Causes Act. The House of Lords has made it clear that the phrase "reasonable needs" is no longer appropriate between spouses. The words "reasonable needs", which used to be the law between husbands and wives, is no longer the law between them. That is why the phrase is in the Bill. It takes us back to a situation where a moderate sum is paid, not a footballer’s wife large sum. They come under House of Lords decisions, which are a completely different state of law.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
710 c422-3 
Session
2008-09
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Children Cohabitation Finance Families Inheritance tax Family proceedings Maintenance Separation
Legislation
Cohabitation Bill (HL) 2008-09
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk