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Living together but not married or in a civil partnership? Common law marriage does not exist in UK law. Here's how to protect your property, finances, and future together.
You may have far less legal protection than you think. Whatever people commonly assume, there is no such thing as a "common law spouse" in England and Wales, however long you've lived together, however you share bills, and however much it feels like a marriage in every other way.
Without something formally in place, an unmarried partner has no automatic right to a share of the home, no automatic right to inherit, and can find themselves with far less protection than expected if the relationship ends or a partner passes away.
It's worth understanding how this sits alongside a Will. A Will only takes effect after you die, deciding what happens to your estate. A Cohabitation Agreement protects you while you're both still alive, setting out property, finances, and what happens if you separate. Most unmarried couples genuinely need both, one doesn't replace the other.
A Cohabitation Agreement doesn't complicate your relationship, it simply makes clear what you'd both already assume to be fair.
There are two main tools used to protect unmarried couples, and depending on your circumstances, you may need one or both. We assess this together and prepare a bespoke document tailored to your situation, rather than asking you to choose upfront.
Covers your relationship as a whole, property ownership, finances, bills, shared assets, and what happens if you separate. It's the broader document for how you live together.
A more specific, property-focused document that formally records exactly what share of a property each of you owns, especially important if you've contributed unequal amounts, such as a larger deposit.
That's exactly what your consultation is for. Many couples need elements of both, so we'll talk through your situation and prepare the right document, or combination of documents, for you, all within the same fixed fee.
We talk through your circumstances, your property, and your finances, so we understand exactly what protection you need.
We confirm whether you need a Cohabitation Agreement, a Declaration of Trust, or a combination of both, with a clear, fixed price.
Your document is drafted, independently vetted, and reviewed together until it accurately reflects your agreement.
For your agreement to be legally binding, it's signed correctly as a deed, with full financial disclosure between both parties.
Book a free, no-obligation consultation today. Friendly advice, zero pressure.