Home / Expertise / Law for Families & Individuals / Living Together & Cohabitation Living Together & Cohabitation Overview Contact What clients say Related Insights Many co-habiting couples do not realise that if their relationship breaks down, or one of them dies, they are not afforded the same legal protection as if they had been married. This is so even if they have been living together for a long time or have children. The concept of the ‘common law’ wife is a myth. Our expert team of Family Law specialists can advise on how best to protect yourself and your family in the event of a relationship breakdown or the death of you or your partner. We will consider issues relating to your co-ownership of property. Many couples do not appreciate that if the family home is in one party’s sole name that party can require the other to leave at any time and, on death, the property will, in the absence of a valid will, pass to the deceased’ next of kin, who could be an existing spouse, a minor child or a distant/estranged relative. We will consider whether you and/or your partner need to make wills. We will also consider the benefits of a Cohabitation Agreement (also known as a Living Together Agreement) which has legal effect and which can define your and your partner’s rights and obligations. A Cohabitation Agreement can be used to make clear the ownership of assets, evidence parental or third party contribution, identify responsibility for debts and remove conflict in the event of a relationship breakdown. This is particularly important in high asset cases where the costs of litigation can be astronomical and the outcome uncertain, depending on evidence of things said many years past. If you have children or personal wealth to protect, including business interests or investments and property, a Cohabitation Agreement can help safeguard them for the future. Our expert team of lawyers will draft a bespoke Cohabitation Agreement tailored to your own situation which protects your assets against separation or unexpected bereavement. Awards & Accreditations Related Expertise Family Mediation & Arbitration Personal Planning for Business Owners Pre-Nuptial Agreements & Wealth Protection Separation, Divorce, Finances & Children Wills, Tax & Lifetime Planning Share this page Like to talk about Living Together & Cohabitation? Fiona Apthorpe Partner IN BRIEF FULL PROFILE Gaynor Dickens Partner IN BRIEF FULL PROFILE Claire Dean Partner IN BRIEF FULL PROFILE Jane Cowley Partner IN BRIEF FULL PROFILE All the team Send What clients say "They won my trust and gave me the confidence I needed to make me feel that I could get through this situation." Chambers & Partners (Derby & Surrounds) 2022 1 2 3 4 5 Related insights Legal Update: Negotiating contracts – what not to forget Legal Update: The Emergence of Corporate Social Responsibility Webinar: Leaving a legacy through asset protection Webinar: Midlands PowerHour: "No jab, No job" - Vaccination issues in… Legal Update: Choice of law causes turbulence See all Living Together & Cohabitation Insights By clicking 'Accept All Cookies', you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Note that accepted cookies can be manually removed using your browser settings. See our cookie policy for more. Cookie settings Accept all cookies Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Cookie Policy Extranet Client Login Website Accessibility Pricing Guides Follow Us 0844 736 0006 info@geldards.com Get insights in your inbox Subscribe now * Please note that the cost of calling our 0844 numbers will include a "service" charge of 6p per minute and an "access" charge from your phone company. Geldards will not receive any payment from the call charges.