Living together? Let’s make sure you are protected

Moving in with a partner is an exciting step. It’s a time full of new beginnings - but it’s also worth thinking about how to protect yourself if things don’t go as planned.

Unlike married couples, cohabiting partners do not have automatic legal rights. There’s no such thing as a “common law marriage” in England and Wales, no matter how long you have lived together.

That’s why it’s important to understand your rights and consider putting clear agreements in place from the start.

What happens if you separate?

If your relationship ends, the law treats cohabiting couples very differently from married ones:

You don’t have an automatic right to your partner’s property or assets
Each person keeps what’s in their own name
Joint assets are divided equally
There’s no right to financial support from your ex-partner (except for child maintenance)

However, if you have made financial contributions or agreements during your relationship, you may still have a claim. We can help you understand your position and what steps to take.

Why consider a cohabitation agreement?

A cohabitation agreement is a legal document that sets out what happens if your relationship ends. It can help avoid confusion, conflict, and costly disputes.

It can cover:

Who owns what (and how it will be divided)
How bills and debts are shared
What happens to joint bank accounts
Child maintenance arrangements
Any other financial agreements

You can create a Cohabitation Agreement before or after moving in together. Either way, it’s a smart step to protect both of you.

Isobel Massey goes the extra mile for her clients and is extremely well prepared. She is very helpful for counsel and writes detailed and clear instructions, while also keeping counsel in the loop regarding bundles.

Legal 500 UK 2025

Isobel had an amazing ability to ignore all the peripheral noise to home in on detail that was important to the children and their needs. At the same time she managed to make the seemingly impossible conversations easy and comfortable. She finds the silver linings in the darkest of moments. I am eternally grateful.

Family Client

It was a long hard slog but it all came good in the end and I can never thank you enough for what you have done for me.

Mrs T

Thank you very much for all your help especially in the difficult circumstances presented. I have never been happier.

Mr G