Cohabitation

An increasing number of people are choosing to live together without getting married. Many people do not realise that a cohabiting couple does not automatically have any legal or financial obligations to each another and are not treated in the same way as a married couple when their relationship ends.

We can advise you on appropriate steps to protect yourself whilst you are still in a relationship and in the event that your relationship with your partner breaks down.

• Cohabitation agreements

  Before you cohabit, you should consider entering into a legally binding arrangement with your partner, especially if you have children. We can draft a cohabitation agreement which includes provision for maintenance and division of assets on separation.

• Property

  If your name is not on the title to the property in which you cohabited, it may be possible, in some cases, to argue that you are beneficially entitled to some of the equity. If you own the property as joint tenants it might be possible to argue that you are entitled to more than a half share.

• Declarations of trust

  We can advise on and prepare declarations of trust, setting out who owns the beneficial interest in property and in what share. This should help to avoid costly disputes in relation to the ownership of property later on.

• Children

  If you and you former partner have children, we can advise as to whether you have a claim against them for maintenance, a lump sum or property rights.

• Wills

  We can prepare a will which ensures that your cohabitee is provided for financially on your death.