To share or not to share: the importance of cohabitation agreements

With cohabiting families totalling 3.3 million they are the fastest growing type of family over the last 20 years. If you are advising a cohabiting family it is important that you make them fully aware of their rights.

You may or may not be surprised to read that 46% of people in England and Wales believe in a 'common law marriage'. This suggests that they believe that just because you are essentially living 'as man and wife' you assume the rights afforded to married couples.

As you will know there is no such thing as a 'common law marriage': cohabiting couples do not have the same legal rights as married couples.

Within this article we explore the importance of having a cohabitation agreement for people who are living with a partner and are not married.

What is a cohabitation agreement?

A cohabitation agreement formalises arrangements made between cohabiting couples. In the event that the relationship breaks down the agreement could address how the following will be split:

• property and contents
• joint savings bank accounts and financial liabilities
• other assets owned by the ...

Read the full article here.