Cohabitation
Unmarried Couples and UK Law
More and more people are choosing to live with each other so it’s important to know where you stand legally.
There is no such thing in English Law as a “common law” wife or husband. If a couple split up under these circumstances, then it’s a case of every man or woman for themselves. Unmarried couples have no legal rights over their partner’s money or property. Anything owned jointly is simply divided.
If you need advice or guidance on any issue relating to living together, just click on the “Get me a Quote” button below to find and compare the prices and services of solicitors who are experts in this field.
There are over four million couples living together in England and Wales in cohabitation. Although cohabitants are now given legal protection in several areas, they and their families have significantly fewer rights and responsibilities than people who are married or who have formed a civil partnership.
Most people think that, after they’ve been living with their partner for a couple of years, they become ‘common law husband and wife’ with the same rights as married couples. This is not the case. In fact, couples who live together have hardly any of the same rights as married couples or civil partners. Although it’s a commonly used term, there is in law no such thing as ‘common law marriage’.
If you are living together as a couple, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your partner. There are also ways to minimise the legal and financial problems which may arise if, as can happen, you decide to separate, or if one of you dies.
A solicitor can help you understand your position and make arrangements for a wide range of circumstances, such as those relating to property, children and pensions. They can also assist in drawing up a LivingTogether agreement, which can make splitting up as amicable and as fair as possible.
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