Breaking up can be hard to do

Break-ups are going for broke
By RUTH LAUGESEN - Sunday Star Times | Sunday, 21 January 2007

The number of unmarried couples setting up house has hit a new high, with de facto relationships twice as popular as they were 15 years ago.

The trend has brought warnings that couples need to have their eyes open about relationship property claims in the event of a break-up.

According to the latest census, 380,000 New Zealanders are in de facto relationships, or 13% of those aged 15 and over. That's up from 6% in 1991. Over the same period, the number of people who are married has drifted down 5% to 47%.

But while marriage may be waning in popularity the increase in those shacking up means that coupledom is not only the norm, but on the rise, with 61% of the adult population living in a relationship.

However, one in three marriages ultimately turns sour, with 10,000 couples expected to divorce this year and unknown numbers of de facto relationships terminating.

More here .