David Gray Solicitors LLP | View firm profile
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.