What Are the Rights of Unmarried Couples Living Together
What are the rights of unmarried couples living together? It is becoming increasingly popular for couples to live together before either getting married or choosing not to get married at all. Unmarried couples living together are also referred to as cohabiting couples or common-law partners.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that the number of families with parents who are unmarried continue to grow faster than married couples and lone parent families, with an increase of over 25.5% over the decade 2008 to 2018.
In this article our experienced Family Law Solicitors explain the legal rights of unmarried couples living together.
The Rights of Unmarried Couples Living Together
It’s important to understand unmarried couples living together do not have the same legal rights as married couples because they do not have the same legal protection in terms of property ownership and finances.
What are The Rights of Unmarried Couples Living Together
It is an exciting time when you move in with your partner and it can be difficult to think about the “what if’s” and your protection in the event that your relationship broke down.
Unfortunately, unmarried couples living together do not have the same protection as married couples when it comes to property ownership and rights to other assets. Therefore, we recommend you sit down with your partner and discuss the “what ifs” and ensure you are both in agreement on how things would be sorted if anything went wrong in the relationship.
Common Law Marriage – The Myth
Contradictory to popular belief there is no such thing as Common Law Marriage. You do not acquire the same legal rights as a married couple just because you have lived together for a certain number of years, bought a house, or had a child together.
The only way you would gain the legal rights of a married couple would be if you got married to your partner. For further information please read our article covering common law marriage – the myth.
Cohabitation Agreement for Unmarried Couples
What is a cohabitation agreement and why do I need one? A cohabitation agreement is a legal agreement which sets out the terms upon which the couple shall live. This legally drafted document enables a couple to agree their rights and set them out in the agreement. Cohabitation agreements set out who owns what and in what proportion and allows the couple to document how they will split their assets should the relationship break down . The agreement can also cover how the couple will support their children over and above any legal requirement to maintain them.
Our specialist Family Law Solicitors can offer advice on what can be included in your agreement based on your circumstances and draw up the agreement so you can have peace of mind for the future.
Legal Advice for Unmarried Couples Living Together
If you would like to discuss your situation with one of our experienced Family Law Solicitors, please call us on 033 3344 9600 or simply email [email protected] with your enquiry.
Morrish Solicitors are a well-established Law Firm based in West Yorkshire. We provide a wide range of national legal services including divorce and family law. Our highly qualified and experienced Solicitors can provide you clear, honest and professional legal advice based on your circumstances aiming to achieve a practical and cost-effective solution.
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