From lack of status to contract: assessing the French Pacte Civil de Solidarité

It has been suggested that the nature of marriage could be varied by private contract. In France a similar effect has been achieved by allowing couples to enter into an institution delimited by law but regulated by contract. Thousands of cohabiting couples have chosen to register a Pacte Civil de Solidarité. This suggests a strong desire for a real alternative to marriage and raises important issues about commitment in modern relationships. It is speculated that PaCS is likely to rank below marriage but above cohabitation in terms of relationship quality, stability and protection of the weaker party.