Contrary to popular belief, in England and Wales, there are no equivalent legal rights offering protection or help to resolve financial disputes between cohabiting couples to that of married couples or civil partners.
This can leave couples who have been in a relationship together for many years, and possibly have children together, in some difficulty.
Cohabitation planning advice
Considering legal matters when your relationship is at its happiest and full of hope for the future is unlikely to be a priority. Unfortunately, you never know what is around the corner and we can help you to plan for eventualities. We can advise on:
living together agreements, also known as cohabitation agreements;
legal planning in case of a relationship breakdown, or death of a partner;
home ownership and mortgage payments;
Wills and financial planning, working with colleagues across the firm;
arrangements for children and maintenance payments; and
With cohabiting couples the fastest growing family type in England and Wales, the rights and responsibilities surrounding cohabitation are of growing importance to couples who are (or are looking to) cohabit. The myth goes that after a qualifying period of cohabitation (usually thought to be either 2 or 5 years) cohabitants acquire the rights and responsibilities of marriage in the eyes of the law.
However, this is not the case and is very misleading as to the reality of the legal position. Listen to our podcast from Family Solicitor Danielle Taylor to hear all about the truths behind this legal myth
Show notes:
00:45 What myths do people believe about cohabitation? Dani introduces the myth of the ‘Common Law spouse’
01:07 How does legislation define cohabitation? The misleading language that fuels misconceptions: Dani explains what this really means in the eyes of the law
01:47 What constitutes a cohabitant?
02:17 What happens when a your relationship breaks down with the person you live with? Where do you stand and what are the risks?
03:20 The court jurisdiction: how can they divide assets?
03:45 Dani explores where you stand legally when children are involved and child maintenance
04:36 Dani explains what you can do to protect yourself under the current laws if you are a cohabitant – what should you agree on before you commit financially?
07:35 Dani concludes, what are the three things you should do before you move in together
Man’s Best Friend: What happens to pets when you separate?
Upon divorce or separation, often the presence of the beloved family pet continues to provide one party with well needed support and consistency. Be it the family cat, the children’s gerbil, the exceptional tortoise or man’s best friend; there are a variety of pets to be considered upon separation. But where should the pet go on separation – who should they stay with, and what legal advice should you seek in this situation?
Show notes:
00:32 Dani examines how pets are viewed in the eyes of the law
01:00 What do you need to consider when separating in relation to pets?
01:06 What do the courts in England and Wales say?
01:35 Financial proceedings: Dani discusses at what happens when you can’t agree on what happens to a pet on separation
02:40 Dani explores what happens to pets which have a significant monetary value
03:27 Dani looks at the emotional ties we have to our pets and how they can affect divorce proceedings and legal costs
03:45 Dani concludes the podcast by summarising what advice you should seek from your lawyer when it comes to separation, divorce and pets
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. For detailed information about how we use cookies on our site, see our Privacy Policy.
By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent.Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.