Legally, cohabiting couples have no financial responsibility to one another if they separate. This remains the case even if you live together a long time, have kids or buy a house together.Ĭall our specialist solicitors on 08 Can unmarried partners get spousal support after a breakup? The only way to get the legal rights of a married couple is to get married. How long does it take to be married according to common law (sometimes called "common law married")?Īn unmarried couple can never be ‘common law married’ because common law marriage or common law spouses no longer exists in UK law and hasn’t done since 1753! It is a popular myth that couples are ‘common law married’ if they have lived together for a certain number of years, but this is not the case. You might want to consider getting a cohabitation agreement which would make things more straightforward in the event of splitting up. If you’re living with your partner, and you’re not married or in a civil partnership, you’re a cohabiting couple. Cohabitation agreements for unmarried couples living togetherĬohabiting is when a couple lives together before marriage (or civil partnership) or instead of marrying or entering into a civil partnership.Can an unmarried couple open a joint bank account together?.Legal rights of unmarried couples if one dies.Adding the father’s name on a birth certificate.
What are the parental rights of unmarried fathers and unmarried mothers?.Can unmarried partners get spousal support after a breakup?.How long does it take to be married according to common law (sometimes called "common law married")?.
Here, Joshua explains some of the key legal points unmarried couples should be aware of before they move in together. Joshua Coombe, Partner and family law solicitor at Tees is an expert in the legal rights of unmarried couples. This means the rules that apply in a divorce, don't apply if you're not married. Unmarried couples don’t have the same legal protection as married couples and they also have no legal responsibility for each other in the event of a breakup. However, unmarried couples living together have different legal rights to married couples. Many couples live together before they get married, or choose to cohabit rather than marry. Unmarried couples living together - your legal rights explained if you’re cohabiting including: financial, property and parental rights.