Unmarried couples need new legal rights, says reform judge

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article6946668.ece

Two million unmarried couples need new legal rights to protect them from injustice if they separate, the new senior judge in charge of law reform has said.

German Father Wins His Human Rights

http://www.euronews.net/2009/12/04/german-father-strikes-a-blow-for-single-dads/

An unmarried German man has struck a blow for fatherhood, winning a landmark legal decision on his right to see his daughter. The European Court of Human Rights ruled in favour of Horst Zaunegger, whose former partner refused him access to their teenage daughter when the couple split up and she moved away.

For court papers click here

traditional notion of a Northern Ireland family

57 % OF BELFAST CHILDREN BORN OUT OF MARRIAGE

The traditional notion of a Northern Ireland family has been turned on its head by new Government figures revealing that almost 40% of children born here are outside of marriage — and divorce rates are the second highest on record.
Statistics released from the Department of Finance and Personnel showed that in Northern Ireland last year the number of births increased by 5% to 25,631. Overall, 39% of these births occurred outside marriage. This varied from area to area, with the highest levels in Belfast (57%) and Derry (50%).