What legal rights do cohabiting couples have?
Contrary to popular belief, living together as a ‘common-law’ couple does not automatically provide you with the same legal rights as married couples, or those in a civil partnership. It’s important, therefore, for cohabitees to make arrangements to protect their financial rights. The best way to do this is to draw up a cohabitation agreement (sometimes called a ‘living together agreement’) – a legal document much like a prenuptial agreement – which sets out fair provision for finances, property and children in the event of separation. If you own property, you should at the very least have a Declaration of Trust setting ...
