Common Law Issues

Legal information for unmarried couples living together in the UK. Topics include property rights, inheritance planning and financial protections without marriage.

Avoiding Inheritance Tax for Cohabiting Couples

Cohabiting couples face hefty inheritance tax bills their married counterparts avoid, with no legal exemptions available.

Check List: Your Legal Rights When a Relationship Ends

Know what you're legally entitled to when your relationship ends with this practical checklist covering housing, money and debts.

Drawing Up a Cohabitation Agreement

Unmarried couples don't have the same legal protections as married ones, so a cohabitation agreement protects you both.

Pension and Maintenance Rights When a Relationship Ends

Cohabiting couples have almost no legal claim to a partner's pensions or assets when they split, even if they've contributed financially.

Planned Reforms in the Law for Cohabiting Couples

Cohabiting couples have no legal rights without marriage or civil partnership, but the government is considering new protections.

Property Rights for Cohabiting Couples

Cohabiting couples without marriage or legal agreements have no property rights if they split up or their partner dies.

The Basics of Civil Partnerships

Civil partnerships give same-sex couples legal recognition and nearly identical rights to married couples, with a few procedural differences.

The Myths of Common Law Marriage

Living together doesn't create legal marriage rights, and cohabiting couples face serious tax and pension risks without proper planning.

Wills and the Rights of a Surviving Partner

Cohabiting couples have no legal rights to their partner's estate without a will, so protect your assets with proper documentation.