Many people decide to live together before marrying or without marrying at all. It is a very common misconception that couples who have been living together for a long period of time have a ‘common law’ marriage. However this is not a legal concept in this country and it is not possible to acquire rights similar to those conferred to married couples simply by living together. This can often leave unmarried people in a situation where their rights upon the breakdown of a relationship are vastly different to those they would have had if they had been married.
Consider a Cohabitation Agreement
We are regularly asked to advise on the preparation of cohabitation agreements. Increasingly people are choosing to live together without marrying and they want to know what their rights and obligations will be should the relationship break down.
We can advise you on the issues that you may wish to consider when you live with a partner, where you stand legally and how a court would view your arrangements. Your cohabitation agreement will be tailored to meet your particular needs. It can cover issues such as the division of assets, how to deal with jointly owned property and who will take responsibility for any debts.
In some situations it may be necessary to seek the assistance of the court to ensure that assets are dealt with appropriately and fairly. Our specialist cohabitation advisers have vast experience in dealing with applications under both the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act and the Children Act.
If you feel you would benefit from speaking to one of our specialist advisors you should not hesitate to contact your local office to arrange an initial consultation.
