Advice on Cohabitation Rights

Cohabitation is the term used by a family solicitor to describe when partners live together as husband and wife, it is often misunderstood in the United Kingdom. The number of cohabitating couples has soared and a lot of people often think that because you live with your partner for a number of years that you are automatically entitled to the same rights and privileges as married couples. This is not necessarily the case as there are hardly any automatic rights to the parties to the relationship and it is advisable that couples living together seek advice as to what there individual rights are and take the necessary steps to protect themselves and their families in the event of circumstances in the future.

In the case of property rights which can have a huge impact on cohabitation rights of couples living together depending on whether they own their own home or how they occupy the property they live in. For example cohabiting couples who own their property as joint tenants if there relationship were to end and they sold the property they would automatically be entitled to half each. If one party were to die then the share would automatically pass to the joint tenant. Property law can be complex at the best of times and so it is important to ensure that a family solicitor is consulted for advice on how your cohabitation will affect your property rights.

However not all cases involving cohabitation rights are so straightforward and often involve scenarios where one couple moves in with the other without necessarily having any share or legal interest in the property or tenancy rights to the accommodation. If the relationship ends then the position of the couple with no ownership is less certain. Where this is the case, or you have any doubts, you should consult a family solicitor for advice.