Partnership
The non-marital family is not recognised under Irish law. This means that it does not possess the same legal rights and obligations as the family based on marriage. Given there is no legal recognition of your partnership, this will obviously have some significant implications for various parts of your life.
The complexity of the legal situations that arise through the various issues associated with living in a civil relationship in Ireland are enormous. You will need to find out about the rights and entitlements of unmarried partners in a range of areas such as:
* The legal guardianship of children
* The custody of children
* Access rights relating to children
* Adoption
* Fostering
* Inheritance rights
* Maintenance
* Property rights
* Property rights after the breakdown of a non-marital relationship
* Access to fertility services.
Every situation is different and it is impossible to explore all the possible scenarios here in any form of depth. The best to obtain advice that pertains to your particular set of circumstances is through the organization called FLAC.
FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres) is an independent, voluntary organisation that operates a network of legal advice clinics throughout the country. These clinics are confidential, free of charge and open to all. Contact your nearest Citizens Information Centre for information on FLAC services in your area. FLAC also runs an information and referral line during office hours for basic legal information.
FLAC has produced a series of basic leaflets on various areas of law which may be useful. These are available from your local Citizens Information Centre and from FLAC or can be downloaded from the FLAC website.
Free Legal Advice Centres
13 Lower Dorset Street
Dublin 1
Ireland
+353 (0)1 8745690
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