Cohabitation Agreements.
Safeguard your home and financial future as our team bring the legal precision and family law expertise needed to structure tailored cohabitation agreements that protect both partners.
Choosing to live together is an important step, and while it is an exciting time, it can also raise practical questions about finances, property, and what should happen if circumstances change in the future.
Many unmarried couples are surprised to learn that living together does not give them the same legal rights as marriage or civil partnership, which is why taking advice at an early stage can provide valuable clarity and peace of mind.
At Lanyon Bowdler, our family law solicitors understand that these conversations can feel sensitive, but putting the right agreement in place can help avoid uncertainty and reduce the risk of costly disputes later on. We take the time to understand your individual circumstances, explain your options in clear and straightforward terms, and prepare an agreement that reflects what matters most to you both.
Recognised nationally in both The Legal 500 and Chambers UK for family law work, Lanyon Bowdler combines trusted legal expertise with the approachable, supportive service clients need when making important decisions about their future.
Speak with one of our Cohabitation Agreement Solicitors today to learn how we can protect your interests. We listen and we care.
Whether you are moving in together for the first time, buying a home jointly, or simply want greater certainty about the future, we are here to guide you with sensitivity, professionalism, and care.
Our experienced team can advise on cohabitation agreements as well as the wider issues that often sit alongside them, including property ownership, financial contributions, and the arrangements you may wish to record to protect your position.
If you are considering a cohabitation agreement, or would like advice about protecting your position as an unmarried couple, our friendly and experienced family law team is here to help.
A cohabitation agreement is a legal document which allows unmarried couples who live together to establish legal rights about how assets would be shared and how children will be provided for if the relationship breaks down. The family lawyers at Lanyon Bowdler are specialists in drafting Cohabitation Agreements and can guide you through the process from start to finish.
There is a common misconception that couples living together have the same legal rights as married couples, often referred to as “common law marriage”.
In actual fact, common law marriage ceased to exist as a legal term in 1753 – nearly 300 years ago!
That means there are thousands of couples living together in England and Wales who have no legal protection if the relationship breaks down. They also have no responsibility for acting as next of kin, no inheritance rights and no legal agreement about the division of child maintenance or shared assets if they separate.
If you and your partner are living together, or are about to move in together, but do not plan to get married or enter into a civil partnership, it makes sense to draw up a cohabitation agreement.
It is the only way to legally agree on the share of any joint assets and liabilities you have.
In England and Wales, there is no legal protection for cohabiting couples. This can leave individuals financially vulnerable in the event of a separation or the death of a partner.
Being clear about each person’s rights and responsibilities in the event of a break-up ensures that both parties are treated fairly. The contributions each party makes to the household become deeply entwined over time, and a cohabitation agreement will help sort everything out should you ever decide to separate.
A cohabitation agreement ensures that there is no uncertainty over who gets what. It can also provide a level of security for couples who share large assets such as houses and businesses.
A cohabitation agreement typically covers your joint assets like property, savings, vehicles and valuable possessions, joint debts like a mortgage, loans and credit cards, and even pet ownership. Important things to include in a cohabitation agreement are:
It is common, particularly for first time buyers, to pool financial resources with a close friend or partner in order to buy a property.
According to the ONS, cohabiters are the fastest growing type of family structure and a steep rise in the number of cohabiting couples submitting joint mortgage applications was seen in 2020 according to the Mortgage Advice Bureau.
There are a variety of ways in which this can be done effectively and it’s up to you how you choose to go about it. The property can be owned solely or jointly, in equal or non-equal shares.
Other questions you should consider are:
When buying a property together, one of the major decisions unmarried couples have to make is whether to register with the Land Registry as joint tenants or as tenants in common.
As joint tenants, you will both own the property equally – there are no separate, identifiable shares.
As tenants in common, you each own separate identifiable shares in the property. These may be equal or unequal shares depending on what makes sense for you.
If your partner is moving into a property you own, the cohabitation agreement could include a statement from the non-owning partner saying that they understand that they will not be gaining a financial interest in the property despite any payments they make, or any work they do on it.
Your decisions here could have an impact on what happens in the unfortunate event of one partner passing away, so it’s important to seek advice from an experienced Cohabitation Agreement Solicitor specific to your unique circumstances.
Pet ownership dispute – very professional, factual and honest. Swift responses & really supportive but also keep you informed of all possibilities.
At what was a challenging time for me, I was guided calmly through a process I knew nothing of.
Staci has been fantastic in dealing with my divorce and financial matter. She was approachable and supportive throughout a personally challenging time, and her communication and clarity was always excellent. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Staci, or Lanyon Bowdler.
I found the service and advice given regarding my matter to be professional and appropriate and my matter was brought to a very swift and satisfactory conclusion. I always felt my Solicitor really had my best interests at heart, I had every confidence.
From the first contact, the team at Lanyon Bowdler gave a fast & efficient service. They were very friendly & gave me the confidence that I had found the right solicitors. The advice given & the fast responses were beyond my expectations. The matter was resolved in no time at all.
After the solicitor firm I was using for my divorce couldn’t get it settled in two years, I transferred to Lanyon Bowdler. Within seven months they got it completely finished and over with. They proactively pushed to get my case closed and were supportive throughout. Absolutely worthy to be called the best.
Lanyon Bowdler managed my case very professionally and were very helpful during a difficult and challenging case both in a professional and personal capacity. I would highly recommend Lanyon Bowdler for all legal matters and would definitely engage in the future if the need arises.
I would not hesitate to recommend LB Solicitors to anyone needing guidance and representation for family law or divorce proceedings. My solicitor was thorough and diligent, balancing professional rigour with fairness, reasonableness and sensitivity. I feel this approach helped me to obtain a satisfactory settlement avoiding costly and unnecessary conflict.
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Everything has been professional, efficient and courteous throughout and we are very pleased, both with the service and with the eventual outcome of our case. Everything was first class and exceeded our expectations. Thank you again for providing such splendid service. It is really appreciated.
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As with many legal documents, drafting a cohabitation agreement can be complex and confusing so it’s essential to talk to a specialist solicitor at the outset. The agreement can actually be quite informal in nature and putting it together needn’t be too onerous, but it’s important to get it right.
A cohabitation agreement can cover a whole range of topics, typically including:
We understand that drafting a cohabitation agreement can be seen by some couples as somewhat daunting and rather unromantic. Rest assured, our family law solicitors are very experienced and work in an approachable, sensitive way, to ensure that the process is as hassle-free as possible.
A Declaration of Trust is a legally binding document that shows the financial arrangements and any other agreements made between joint property owners at the time of purchase. It is not required by law, but it makes the shares of ownership much more transparent and easier to resolve if things change in the future. The key things to include in a deed of trust are how much money has been invested, and what percentage of the property each person will own. If the couple separates in the future the deed of trust will dictate how the proceeds are divided.
If you have any questions about cohabitation agreement law, please get in touch with the team who will happily discuss how we can help.
Lanyon Bowdler was one of the first law firms in the area to introduce a range of flexible pricing options, such as fixed fees and service level guarantees, because we feel it’s important to be open and transparent about how much our services will cost.
Please give us a call for a friendly, confidential, chat about how we can help support you when you or your family need legal advice and representation. Please contact a member of the team or complete our online enquiry form.
By choosing Lanyon Bowdler for family law legal advice, you can rest assured that you have the best legal expertise on hand no matter what the situation. We are committed to providing exceptional levels of client care and will work closely and considerately with you to help find the best outcomes. Our team has great experience in all areas of family law and family mediation, including cohabitation agreements.
We have offices in Shrewsbury, Bromyard, Conwy, Hereford, Ludlow, Oswestry and Telford, so are able to act for clients all over Shropshire, Herefordshire, Mid and North Wales and across the Midlands. Our expertise makes us the obvious choice for Cohabitation Agreement Solicitors in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Worcester. As a leading full-service law firm in Wales, we can represent you wherever you live in England or Wales.
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