Unmarried couples are usually treated as two separate, and unmarried individuals, even if they have been living together for a long time.
This means that each has no automatic rights to access the other’s assets in the event of a relationship breakdown. Unmarried cohabitation solicitors in North Wales can advise on the ways of ensuring that each party is protected and provided for.
Many people believe that common law, the state of two unmarried couples living together, provides legally binding rights for individuals, but this is incorrect. Unmarried couples living together are called cohabitees and they have very few entitlements in the event of one dying or if they separate and the relationship ends. To access the same privileges as married couples, those cohabiting need to become married themselves. However, if this is not an option, a Cohabitation Agreement may be drawn up with the help of a legal expert. This document sets out the terms and conditions of how assets will be divided if the relationship breaks down.
Generally, the most disputed assets during a separation are property and finances. A house, for example, purchased by one partner will remain in their possession if a non-married couple split up. This is the case even if the other individual paid part of the mortgage. Solicitors in North Wales will provide the guidance needed to lay out a fair way to split assets when needed.
Feel free to speak to us at Bennett Smith Solicitors and ask us what you need to know about cohabitation.
