Relationships & Marriage

Cohabitation Agreements

Cohabitation means to share the same home as someone without being married. It is becoming increasingly common for couples to live together before marrying, or choose not to marry at all. The definition of cohabitation doesn’t just apply to couples; it can extend to anyone living together, including groups of friends. A Cohabitation Agreement is one of the best ways to protect yourself and those you live with.

Legal Rights of Cohabiting Couples

It may be surprising, but there is actually no such thing as a ‘common law’ wife or husband. Even if you’ve been living with a partner for years and are, to all intents and purposes, as good as married, you have no legal rights to anything your partner leaves behind if something happens to them. This includes the home you live in and any of their finances.

What do I need to think about when I live with someone?

The house/flat

If you are renting a property and your relationship breaks down, it’s usually a simple matter of ending the contract on the house/flat and going your separate ways. However, it is not as simple you own as house together, as disputes may arise over who would live in the property when the relationship has ended. If you have used a joint income to purchase the property and have a joint mortgage, arguments about who is entitled to the property can become heated. We’re here to help in this situation.

Children

If you have children, you will need to think about where they will live in the event of a relationship breakdown. Who will look after them on a day-to-day basis? How often will the other person see them, and where? How much will the other person pay in maintenance?

Shared Items

If you have bought a number of expensive household items during your time together, it’s likely you split the payment. If you had no prior agreement as to who owned these goods if your relationship ends, this can cause disputes later on.

What happens to the other person if one person dies?

It’s not something you want to think about, but if one partner dies you may not be entitled to receive anything unless you are married or have specifically stated in a Will that you would like your partner to inherit. You may be able to bring a claim against your partner’s estate but that is likely to be expensive, and has no guarantee of success.

If you are in a long-term unmarried relationship and want your partner to inherit from your estate if you die, make decisions around your funeral, and be able to remain in the property you are living in after your death, it is essential that you make a Will.

What can I do to protect myself and my partner?

Considering a Cohabitation Agreement is one of the best ways of taking steps to protect you and your partner if you separate. A Cohabitation Agreement is an inexpensive document stating exactly what is to happen to all of the above if the relationship ends.

You can specify who will receive the house, or how it will divide up fairly for both partners if it is sold. You can decide on where any children will live and how often they will see the other person. You can decide who will receive expensive household items, and you can specify that if anything happens to you, your partner receives everything you own or a portion of it.

A Cohabitation Agreement gives you the advantage of being able to decide these things fairly and rationally, and in advance of it being required. It’ll allow you to make sure you both agree on what to enter into the document – thereby preventing arguments, claims and traumatic disputes further down the line.

One huge advantage of ascertaining the rights of partners living together and signing a Cohabitation Agreement is that you’ll know exactly where you stand should your relationship end. You may never need it, but signing an agreement will provide peace of mind and allow you to live together happily without worrying about things going wrong in the future.

Who We Are: Brighton Cohabitation Agreement Solicitors

Burt Brill & Cardens have been serving the people of Sussex and beyond for over 125 years. Sir Herbert Carden founded our Firm in the heart of Brighton in 1893. In 2020, we provide legal services to clients all over the world, but are proud to still be based at number 30 Old Steyne, a stone’s throw away from the famous Brighton Pier. We take great pride in our reputation, which comes not only from a century of providing first-rate legal services, but from the outstanding staff that look after our clients today. We pride ourselves on our integrity, expertise, and client focus.

Everyone at the firm were so lovely and friendly. My solicitor really went above and beyond to help me through the hardest time of my life.
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