There are over 3 million couples cohabiting in the UK - many have no formal cohabitation agreement in place. This week Resolution, have launched Cohabitation Awareness week, running from 25th to 29th November providing, information to couples who are not married and living together. 

Resolution has commented - Despite the myth of ‘common law marriage’, under current cohabitation law it’s possible to live with someone for decades and even to have children together and then simply walk away without taking any responsibility for a former partner when the relationship breaks down.

Watch the Resolution video below.

If you are cohabiting it is important to understand that you do not have automatic rights or interests in your partner’s property, income, capital, pensions or assets generally.  Neither do you have an automatic interest in their estate should they die before you.  This can mean that if your relationship changes, in particular on separation, or in the event of death, you can find yourself financially as well as emotionally bereft.

Read our article which runs through six things to check if you are cohabiting.

If you would like to discuss drawing up a cohabitation agreement, or any other matter relating to family law, please do get in touch with our Family Department who will be happy to help. Call our expert Family Law Team on 0330 0945 500, email family@nevesllp.co.uk or complete our Contact Form and we'll get back to you.