Cohabitation

More and more people are choosing not to marry but to live together. Many people live together under the misapprehension that they have the same rights as a married couple. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Cohabiting couples and their rights

Others believe the old wives tale “if we live together for 3 years that makes me a common-law wife/husband”. That is a complete myth; no such concept exists nor does it establish any rights over property or assets or claims for maintenance whether they live together for 3 years or 23 years!

No claims can be pursued by either party for maintenance for themselves and no claims can be made against the other party’s pension fund.

In the absence of an asset being in joint names, including the home they may have shared for many years, it is very difficult to establish an interest.

Children born into an unmarried relationship do have some rights of financial support and to be provided with a home.

Cohabitation disputes are a very specialised area of law and we have very experienced and highly trained lawyers able to deal with disputes of this nature.

Our expert team of family lawyers can help you with issues relating to:

Finances
Children
Wills and Inheritance

To talk in confidence to one of our family lawyers please contact us directly. Our team can arrange meetings at locations and times to suit our clients.

Manchester Family Team

David Pickering

Lesley Smythe

Leeds Family Team

Carol Grundell

Liverpool Family Team

Pauline McNamara

London Family Team

Mary-Ann Wright