Cohabitation Agreements, Rights & Disputes
Legal issues can arise when couples are cohabiting, so our specialist divorce and family lawyers work to protect your interests by drawing up a cohabitation agreement to save you expenses and stress in the future should the worst happen.
Many couples live together – or cohabit – without formalising their relationship through marriage or a civil partnership.
Issues often arise because you consequently have no legal rights as partners, regardless of how long you have lived together. This means there is no foundation to the popular notion that you become a ‘common law’ husband or wife simply because you have lived under the same roof for a defined period.
Getting your legal rights in order is a good idea because the law is not designed for cohabiting couples; living in a jointly owned property, or in a property that is in just one name, for example, often results in complicated disputes if the relationship ends.
It is worth noting the following facts about cohabitation:
- Living together does not mean that you and your partner are next of kin
- Some pension providers do not automatically pay a pension to the surviving partner if one of you dies
- Just as importantly, if you have children together, you should take advice about parental responsibility
As well as protecting your interests through a cohabitation agreement, our divorce and family lawyers can provide straightforward advice on making a will, or producing a trust deed for your home that will protect your interests.
Get in touch with our Lancaster, Preston, Kendal, Garstang or Clitheroe office.
