I’m moving in with my partner. What do I need to know?

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Common law marriage

There is a common myth that unmarried couples who live together have the same legal rights as married couples because they are in a ‘common law marriage’.

There is no such thing as a common law marriage and unmarried couples actually have very few legal rights in comparison to married couples. This can lead to issues and uncertainties upon separation.

What is a cohabitation agreement?

Unmarried couples who are living together or planning on moving in together who wish to put in place financial arrangements in the event of a relationship breakdown can enter into a cohabitation agreement. This type of agreement generally deals with things like:

  • who owns what at the time of the agreement, and in what proportions
  • what financial arrangements you have decided to make when you start living together (if you are not already doing so) and
  • how financial assets should be divided if you split up.

Entering into a Cohabitation Agreement can mean that areas of potential dispute on separation are reduced or eliminated and the process of making such an agreement means that people have a chance to think and talk about how living together is going to work financially meaning that arguments about money are less likely later on.

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