Cohabiting and Unmarried Couples
Edwards Family Law is a team of experienced family law solicitors based in London, specialising in cohabitation law.
FAQs
What is Cohabitation and what are my rights?
Fewer and fewer people are getting married in England and Wales and are choosing instead to live in a cohabiting relationship.
What many couples do not understand is that the concept of a “common law marriage” does not exist. The financial rights and obligations available to married couples do not apply to cohabiting couples. If you want to avoid future issues, either at the point of deciding to live with your partner, or once you have moved in together to regulate how you arrange your finances, we can assist you in preparing a cohabitation agreement to set out your intentions.
Alternatively, your relationship might be about to, or has just broken down.
As a result of the very common misconceptions about the law in these circumstances, many people can find themselves at a huge financial disadvantage because they were expecting a different financial outcome or inadvertently ‘trust’ that they would get something at the end of the relationship.
Perhaps you have a dispute relating to a property owned in joint names, or perhaps your partner owns a property which you had thought was going to be for the both of you but in which you have no legal interest. Perhaps you have spent significant time and money renovating your family home but it is not in joint names, but you are now separating and you have nothing in place to protect you. If this is something you believe might apply to you (or vice versa), we can give you comprehensive and clear advice regarding possible claims.
What if we are unmarried with children?
Initial Consultation
During a initial consultation with our experienced divorce solicitors and family solicitors, you can expect a comprehensive discussion about divorce in the UK (England and Wales). We’ll walk you through the process of how to get a divorce, covering important topics such as the divorce application, laws on divorce and your financial rights and obligations following a divorce.
Our lawyers will provide insight into divorce law, including no-fault divorce, and help you understand the divorce process, including divorce filing and court proceedings. We’ll also discuss the cost of divorce, giving you a clear picture of what to expect financially. Our team of solicitors also can provide comprehensive legal guidance in issues such as child arrangements (also known as “child custody”), spousal support, and property division.
We’re here to assist you in every aspect of getting a divorce or family issue, making the process as smooth and stress-free as possible. Whether you’re seeking advice on family arrangements or need guidance on a divorce consent order our experts in family law are here to help.
We endeavour to respond to all new enquiries within a few hours but sometimes with other commitments such as court hearings, that might not be possible. At most, we will get back to you within 24 hours. If you require urgent or immediate assistance, please contact the team by email contact@edwardsfamilylaw.co.uk, flagging the urgency and we will do whatever we can to assist, if proportionate and possible on the facts of your individual case.
