Cohabitation Solicitors in Sussex

Cohabitation law & living together agreements

Cohabitation disputes can arise between people who live together, including couples, friends or family members. These disputes commonly occur when a relationship ends or when one person is asked to leave a shared residence.

Cohabiting couples often build a life together over many years and may own property, businesses or have children together. When a relationship breaks down, it may be necessary to resolve how assets should be divided and how arrangements for children will be managed, with their best interests in mind. Our experienced cohabitation solicitors in Sussex advise on resolving cohabitation disputes sensitively and practically.

Getting help with cohabitation agreements from our solicitors

If you need advice from one of our cohabitation law solicitors about agreements or ownership of property upon separation, contact us today to make an appointment to discuss your options.

Our specialist cohabitation solicitors look after clients across Sussex, with offices in Brighton, Chichester, Crawley, Eastbourne, East Grinstead, Lewes, Seaford,  Storrington, Tunbridge Wells as well as London.

Cohabitation disputes – what is the law?

Marriage and civil partnerships have a special status in law, which provides a certain level of protection for each party if it breaks down.

However, protection is more limited for people who are not married but who are living together. There is no such thing as a “common law husband” or a “common law wife”.

To avoid any issues arising on separation, it is often sensible to consider entering into a cohabitation agreement prior to living together. Cohabitation agreements can help protect your rights to property and other assets if your relationship breaks down.

What can cohabitation agreements cover?

A cohabitation agreement or living together agreement aims to confirm the rights and obligations of each partner towards one another. If you are in a long-term relationship where you are making a significant financial commitment, you may wish to consider protecting your assets with a more formal agreement.

Cohabitation agreements can cover the following:

• Financial arrangements
• Parenting and childcare arrangements

If you and your partner own a property or you move into a property that they already own, you can also make a legal agreement about how you share that property, to provide clarity and equity, called a ‘Declaration of Trust’.

You should consider a Declaration of Trust at the time you purchase a property, rather than afterwards when the relationship breaks down. Important things to consider are:

• The financial contributions you each make to the property
• What will happen to the money and how it will be divided, when the property is sold
• When will the property be sold