A cohabitation agreement is a legal document which allows cohabiting, unmarried couples to establish their rights within the law. Cohabitation agreements can make recommendations for everything from the division of shared assets to the delegation of household chores. Call 0800 652 3371 or complete our enquiry form and speak to a specialist cohabitation agreement solicitor today.
The Myth of Common Law Marriage
The belief that cohabiting couples acquire the legal rights of married couples purely as a result of living together, often referred to as 'common law marriage' is, in fact, a myth; common law marriage has not existed in England since 1753.
This means there are thousands of cohabiting couples currently living in the UK, of which neither member has a legal right to a share of their partner's assets. Such couples would also forfeit inheritance rights, the responsibility for acting as next of kin and have no concrete legal agreement about the division of shared assets and child maintenance were they to separate.
Drafting Your Cohabitation Agreement
Cohabitation agreement law can be complex and confusing, thus it is best to secure the services of an experienced family law solicitor to oversee the drafting of your cohabitation agreement. The document can be formal or informal in nature, and can cover a vast range of topics. Typically, a cohabitation agreement will deal with one or more of the following topics:
- Inheritance and wills: do you wish to provide for your partner, and if so under what terms?
- Income: are you and your partner planning to pool your income in a joint account?
- Children: do you have children, and if so how do you plan to provide for them in the event of a separation?
- Duration: when would you like the cohabitation agreement to expire?
- Property: how will you and your partner differentiate between property acquired prior to your relationship and property acquired during your relationship?
At Lanyon Bowdler we understand that many couples find the idea of drafting a cohabitation agreement uncomfortable and somewhat unromantic. Our solicitors will therefore treat the entire process with the necessary discretion, helping you and your partner draft a cohabitation agreement that ensures both your legal rights, and the rights of any children involved, are protected.
Contact Lanyon Bowdler
The cohabitation agreement lawyers at Lanyon Bowdler can answer all your questions about cohabitation agreement law.
We don't just sell time; we sell experience, expertise, know-how and results, and are able to offer a wide range of pricing options which may include Fixed Fees and Service Level Guarantees.
We are able to offer fluent Welsh speaking lawyers at our office in Oswestry. To speak to an experienced family law solicitor today, or to arrange for an initial consultation, call 0800 652 3371 or complete our enquiry form and we will get back to you.