The 2010 Cohabitation and Civil Partnership Act introduced legislation which changed the rights between certain couples who were cohabiting on or after the 1st January 2011. In some cases parties can become qualified cohabitants which allows them to make application for orders similar to those given in Judicial Separation and Divorce cases such as property adjustment orders and maintenance orders. Couples can elect to opt out of this act by entering into a Co-habitation Agreement which can deal with how they want their property and incomes to be dealt with in the event that they separate. It is similar to the idea of a Pre Nuptial Agreement or pre-nup.