LIVE-IN-RELATIONSHIP: A Question of Legitimacy & Inheritance in India

There is no legal barrier to prevent a man and a woman cohabiting together without entering into formal marriage in the form of “live‐in-relationship”. The traditional society of India however does not approve such living arrangements. The concept of live-in-relationship is not a new concept in India although the name “Live-in-relationship” is heard openly in recent times. This is nowadays being taken as an alternative to marriage especially in the metropolitan cities. Currently the law is unclear about the status of such a relationship though a few rights have been granted to prevent gross misuse of the relationship by the partners. Legalizing live in the relationship means that a totally new set of laws require to govern the relationship including protection in case of desertion cheating maintenance inheritance etc. Even courts are also trying to take the live-in-relation under the presumption of marriage. It is not allowed in any judgment independently as live-in-relationship. The harm caused to a “legally wedded wife” and her children and promotion of bigamy is two main arguments opposed to wholly legalize the live-in-relationships in India.