Cohabitation

Cohabitation solicitors that help you plan ahead – and protect what matters most

Whether you’re starting a new chapter by moving in together or navigating the complexities of a separation, our cohabitation solicitors are here to provide clear guidance and support, helping you move forward with confidence and clarity.

More and more couples are choosing to build their lives together without getting married. While this doesn’t affect the depth or commitment of your partnership, it’s important to understand how cohabitation can impact your legal rights. Living together doesn’t automatically provide legal protection. If your relationship ends, or one partner passes away, your rights to property, finances or children may not be clear. That’s why it’s important to understand your legal position and take steps to safeguard your future.

We can help you put strong legal foundations in place through cohabitation agreements, declarations of trust for shared property, parental responsibility arrangements and wills that protect your partner and family. If you’re facing a separation, we’ll support you in resolving disputes constructively and help you find fair outcomes around property, finances, and parenting.

Our cohabitation solicitors provide clear, practical advice and a compassionate approach, guiding you with confidence whether you’re planning ahead or managing change.

Our Cohabitation Services

Relationship Agreements

Wills

Residential Property & Land Disputes

Declaration of Trust

Why Choose SE-Solicitors

Understanding

We know the stresses and uncertainty you may face. Family is all about relationships, so we are doubly focused on compassionately understanding you and your world more deeply.

Expertise

By harnessing our collective skills, knowledge, and depth of expertise, we’re here to support you and manage the unique complexity of your interests in a smarter way.

Insight

Naturally strategic, we’re able to solve problems, realise opportunities more effectively, and see the bigger picture, for family is at the heart of so much of our lives.

Agility

Always responsive, with a solutions orientated mindset, we get to the heart of the matter fast, enabling you to reach positive outcomes more quickly.

Get in touch

Whether you’re starting a new chapter together or navigating the end of a relationship, getting the right legal advice can make all the difference. Talk to our cohabitation solicitors today and take the first step towards clarity, security, and peace of mind.

Our client testimonials

“Can I just say “Thank You” for your help and services through what has been an extremely difficult time, you have treated me with patience and kindness which I truly appreciate, despite the circumstances it was nice to meet you and may I wish all the very best for the future.”

Client, 2025

“I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your guidance and advice in navigating through my recent family court case. What for me seemed a very tortuous process, your succinct advice ensured that, from the very outset, I felt confident of drawing what was an uncertain future to a satisfactory conclusion.”

Client 2025

“The clarification and legal advice we received has really helped us and reassured our course of action – thanks.”

Client, 2024

“Monicka was the one that managed to pull all the information together and highlight the potential pitfalls and problems that might be faced in an easy to understand and logical way. It genuinely feels as though she cares about her clients, but absolutely has the expert knowledge to back that up. Would not hesitate one bit to re-engage her services if it were needed in future … Would highly recommend.”

Toni, 2023

“Thank you for your calm, level-headed guidance and advice throughout this process. It is a huge relief that everything is now settled.”

Dan Peters, 2025

“The service I received from Petra was incredible and so positive. Thank you for your advice, and for being so human throughout the process.”

Mr C. Brackley, Client 2023

Cohabitation Posts

The Value of a Good Family Lawyer

25 Jul 2025

Family Law matters often involve deeply personal and emotionally charged issues, from divorce and child arrangements to financial…

SE-Solicitors Unveils ‘Separate Together™’: Unified Separation for Unmarried Couples

14 Jul 2025

We are proud to announce Separate Together, a new legal service created specifically for unmarried couples seeking to separate amicably,…

Living Together, Not Married: Know your rights without a ring?

11 Jul 2025

The rights of unmarried couples A common law partner or common law marriage are terms often used to describe a couple that live together…

What are the Legal Implications of Cohabitation?

9 May 2025

It is now rare for couples not to live together before marriage and increasingly couples are choosing not to get married at all. While it…

Cohabitation Law – is there a need for reform?

11 Dec 2024

Periodically, laws become outdated and fail to reflect contemporary society, posing a risk of constraining couples under legislation that…

Are you thinking about a divorce?

13 Jan 2023

For many family lawyers dealing with divorce and separation, early January is often a busy time as couples consider making a fresh start…

The Myth of “Common Law Marriage”

21 Nov 2022

It is reported that the total number of cohabiting couples has increased by 2.1 million since 1996, with 22% of couples living together…

Child arrangements at Christmas

10 Nov 2022

In the lead up to Christmas, solicitors often receive a flurry of enquiries from separated parents wanting to resolve the arrangements…

Fewer people are marrying but divorce rates are skyrocketing

6 Oct 2021

According to data from the ONS, over the last 50 years fewer couples are getting married, but the divorce rate has increased tenfold. …

FAQs

Your questions answered. Take a look at some our Cohabitation frequently asked questions for more information.

What is cohabitation?

There is no specific legal definition of ‘cohabitation’, however, the term typically describes a living arrangement for unmarried couples with a romantic relationship. For example, a romantic couple that live together and share their finances would likely be categorised as cohabiting.

What are cohabiting couples entitled to?

Many cohabiting couples may not realise that their relationship is not legally recognised, and that they do not have the same rights as married couples, or those in a Civil Partnership. Importantly, cohabiting couples do not have the same rights on the breakdown of their relationship in relation to finances and property as married couples or civil partners.

What is a cohabitation agreement?

Whilst cohabiting couples do not automatically have the same protections as married couples or civil partners, they can protect their interests through a cohabitation agreement. A cohabitation agreement is a way for cohabiting couples to regulate the terms of their cohabitation, for example, by stating how household expenses are to be paid and whether any financial support shall be payable to one person should they separate.

Cohabitation agreements are also often recommended as the best way for cohabiting couples to specify what should happen if the relationship breaks down.

What happens to children if an unmarried couple split up?

When it comes to making key decisions for children, it is important to consider whether both parents have parental responsibility. Parental responsibility relates to all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority that a parent of a child has in relation to the child and their property by law. The biological mother of a child will automatically have parental responsibility. Where unmarried couples have children, parental responsibility is not an automatic right granted to the child’s father but can be granted if the father is named on the child’s birth certificate. When big decisions are made for a child, those with parental responsibility will need to consult each other when those decisions are made, for example changing a child’s school or medical treatment.

When unmarried couples separate, they do not have the same rights to financial support that are available to married couples or civil partners. For example, spouses and civil partners can make claims in respect of each other’s pensions, income, capital and inheritance upon death. When unmarried parents separate, an application can be made under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 if the application for financial provision relates to children of the relationship. Any financial provision awarded must be solely for the benefit of the children and cannot be disguised as a benefit for the parent.

Unmarried individuals are therefore not entitled to claim for maintenance payments from the other party. However, where a child lives primarily with one parent, a child maintenance liability may arise. Child maintenance payments are statutory and can be enforced through the Child Maintenance Service.

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