Cohabitation
Our family law experts
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Alison Gosling Paralegal |
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Elizabeth Davies Trainee Solicitor |
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Farhad Islam Partner |
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Jenny Powell Legal Assistant |
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Stuart Tyler Solicitor |
Property
Similar rules apply if the property is owned by one of you. The property owner is the only one entitled to live there – anyone else can be asked to leave. The owner can also make decisions – such as selling the property – without consulting their partner.
However, you may have some rights (eg to a share of the money if the property is sold). This can happen if:
- The owner of the property has agreed in writing that the non-owner is entitled to a share of the home.
- The non-owner contributes (eg paying part of the mortgage) to the property on the understanding that this entitles him or her to a share.
- The non-owner has acted to their own detriment (eg giving up a job) on the understanding that this entitles him or her to a share.
- A partner with children applies to the court for the right to continue living there to ensure the children’s welfare.
Finances
You have no legal duty to support your cohabiting partner either whilst living together or if you should separate. Nor do you automatically share ownership of your possessions, savings, investments and so on. The assets you owned when you started co-habiting remain yours should you decide to separate or move out.
Should you incur any debts that are in joint names (eg credit cards), you will both be liable for the debt. If your partner fails to pay, you can be pursued for the full amount. You may also both be liable for household bills.
Children
If the parents of a child are not married, only the mother automatically has parental responsibility. The mother’s partner has parental responsibility only if:
- He is named as the father on the birth certificate (for a child born after December 2003).
- He enters into an agreement with the mother and obtains a parental responsibility order or child arrangements order.
- He is registered as the child’s guardian and all other individuals with parental responsibility have died (including the mother).
Inheritance
Should your partner pass away, you have no automatic right to inherit any of their assets. However, if you have lived together ‘as man and wife’ for at least two years or you can show that you were financially dependent on your partner, you can make a claim for a financial settlement. Making a claim is a complex dispute and can prove expensive if the other beneficiaries disagree. Should you wish to pursue a claim we have highly skilled solicitors who can help you through the process.
When it comes to property, if you owned your home as ‘joint tenants’, you will automatically own the property if your partner dies. If, however, you were ‘tenants in common’, your partner’s share is dealt with under the terms of his or her will.
What can I do to protect myself?
Written agreements can help to protect you from potential risks if you separate or your partner dies.
We can help you with a cohabitation agreement which can help cover issues such as property, finances, childcare etc.
Cohabitation FAQs
In this section, you will find some of the often asked questions regarding cohabitation related issues. If you have a query that is not covered below, please do not hesitate to contact us.
If I move in with my partner, what rights do I have to the property?
Similar rules apply if the property is owned by one of you. The property owner is the only one entitled to live there – anyone else can be asked to leave. The owner can also make decisions – such as selling the property – without consulting their partner.
However, even where only one of you owns the property, the other may have some rights (eg to a share of the money if the property is sold) if:
- The non-owner contributes financially to the payment of the mortgage on the understanding that the other party is entitled to a share should it then be sold.
- There are children involved in the partnership; a partner can apply to the Court for the right to remain living in the property to ensure the children’s welfare.
What if I want to move out and sell the property?
If the property is owned by our partner, you do not have an automatic right to a share in the property unless you can prove you have made a financial contribution ie you have helped pay the mortgage.
Whatever your circumstances, a written cohabitation agreement detailing what contributions you will each make and what share of the home you are each entitled to, minimises the risk of future disputes.
How do we divide our assets if we split up?
In general, ownership is unaffected by moving in together and should you decide to part, anything you entered into the relationship owning remains yours.
If you have any debts in joint names (eg credit cards), you are normally each liable for the debt. If your partner fails to pay, you can be pursued for the full amount. You may also both be liable for household bills.
Can my partner authorise a doctor to operate on my child?
- He is named as the father on the birth certificate (for a child born after December 2003).
- He enters into a parental responsibility agreement with the mother.
- He is registered as the child’s guardian and all other individuals with parental responsibility have died (including the mother).
What happens if my partner dies and we are not married?
When it comes to property, if you owned your home as ‘joint tenants’, you will automatically own the property if your partner dies. If, however, you were ‘tenants in common’, your partner’s share is dealt with under the terms of his or her will.
Why should we have a cohabitation agreement?
Though not all of the agreement may be legally enforceable, it can help reduce the likelihood of a dispute arising and make them easier to resolve.
Such an agreement may include reference to finances, children, property and other assets that you may have and how they will be dealt with should you separate or one of you die.
Get in touch with our family law solicitors in Chelmsford
If you want to find out more about the services we can offer you, please feel free to get in touch with our family law solicitors in Chelmsford.
Call us
Main number: 01245 701581
Email us
Main email: family@gepp.co.uk
With Gepp Solicitors you’ll be in experienced hands. We’ll work hard to get the best possible outcome for you and your family.
With Gepp Solicitors you’ll
be in experienced hands.
We’ll work hard to get the best
possible outcome for you and
your family.
Our Family Law experts
|
Alison Gosling Paralegal |
|
Farhad Islam Partner |
|
Stuart Tyler Solicitor |
|
Elizabeth Davies Paralegal Assistant |
 |
Esra Dogan Associate |
|
Jenny Powell Legal Assistant |
|
Alison Gosling Paralegal |
|
Elizabeth Davies Trainee Solicitor |
|
Esra Dogan Associate |
|
Farhad Islam Partner |
|
Jenny Powell Legal Assistant |
|
Stuart Tyler Solicitor |
