Moving in with your partner is a big commitment, especially when you are unmarried, as, unlike married couples, unmarried couples don’t have many rights to each other, and this has the potential to cause considerable problems if the relationship breaks down in the future.
Putting a cohabitation agreement in place can address these issues, helping to clearly state what will happen to children, finances, and property in the event of a separation.
Our team are considerably experienced in family law matters, such as cohabitation agreements. We have worked with a range of clients over the years, from those with considerably fewer assets to those with higher net worth.
To speak to one of our friendly, highly experienced family law solicitors, please contact our Bournemouth office on 01202 292 424 or fill in our online enquiry form for a quick response.
How our cohabitation agreement solicitors can help you
Our specialist cohabitation agreement solicitors can provide expertise on matters including:
- Cohabitation agreement advice
- Preparing a cohabitation agreement
- Applying a cohabitation agreement during separation
Cohabitation agreement advice
If you and your partner are thinking of moving in together or you have confirmation that you are, we would always recommend taking the time to consider a cohabitation agreement for financial protection in the event your relationship doesn’t work out. But before signing one, it’s important to ensure that it aligns with your interests and covers all the primary eventualities.
Our solicitors in Bournemouth have a broad scope of knowledge and can provide sensible advice in plain English, so you fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of signing a cohabitation agreement, ensuring you make a fully informed decision.
Preparing a cohabitation agreement
Preparing a cohabitation agreement can be complex, with many conditions needing to be met for it to be considered valid, so it’s vital to have the support of a family law solicitor who can ensure that everything is done correctly and in a way that exactly suits you and your needs.
Each person, their relationship and circumstances are entirely different from other individuals. That’s why we always provide close, personal support that’s carefully tailored to your situation. We have worked with a range of individuals in all types of scenarios, helping to draft an agreement that provides the best short and long-term solutions.
Our solicitors in Bournemouth will be able to provide expert advice, including:
- Suggesting what to include in your agreement
- Drafting the cohabitation agreement
- Providing advice on the potential implications
Applying a cohabitation agreement during separation
If in the unfortunate situation that your relationship does break down, a solicitor can assist with ensuring the cohabitation agreement is followed as it was intended or as would be fair at the time it is relied upon.
The courts will only consider a cohabitation agreement to be valid where certain conditions have been met, and these are:
- Both parties entered the agreement freely and voluntarily
- The agreement was executed in the form of a deed
- Each party signed the document
- The agreement was kept up to date with significant life changes
If you need assistance putting a cohabitation agreement to use, our solicitors can support you. We have assisted many clients in all manner of scenarios to use their cohabitation agreement when separating. With our team by your side, you can be sure to receive proficient and effective guidance.
Common questions about cohabitation agreements
What rights do unmarried couples have?
Unmarried couples have very little rights over each other’s assets, and this can cause complications when a cohabitating couple separates. That’s why, when you make the decision to move in with your partner, you should consider seeking legal advice about a cohabitation agreement.
What is a cohabitation agreement?
When a couple makes the decision to move in together, they can create a cohabitation agreement, sometimes known as a living together agreement, which will cover a variety of matters relating to the couple, including individual assets, shared assets, debts and more.
A cohabitation agreement can also be used when individuals move in with someone they aren’t in a relationship with, such as housemates, although this is extremely rare.
What should a cohabitation agreement include?
There are so many different things that can be included in a cohabitation agreement in relation to your personal circumstances. However, where a general cohabitation agreement applies, they will most often contain details concerning:
- Property ownership – individual and/or joint
- Each party’s responsibility for household bills, including rent or mortgage
- Each party’s individual assets
- Each party’s shared assets
- Each party’s individual debts
- Each party’s shared debt
- Pets
- Children
- Life insurance
- Next of kin rights
Why choose Preston Redman’s cohabitation agreement solicitors?
Family law can be a legally challenging and mentally emotional situation to be involved in, especially when you are separating from your partner. Whether you are looking for cohabitation advice, preparing an agreement or applying a cohabitation agreement following a separation, our team will approach the matter with the utmost sensitivity, ensuring you are fully supported throughout the entire process.
We are proud to have been recognised by the Law Society and awarded the Family Law Advanced accreditation. This accreditation reflects our dedication to providing an exceptional family law service to families in Bournemouth and across the UK.
Many of our team are members of the UK’s leading family law association, Resolution, which focuses on removing conflict from divorce, civil partnership dissolution, separation, and related proceedings.
Our civil partnership solicitors’ fees
Fixed fees
Most of the cohabitation services we provide to clients can be charged on a fixed fee basis. This provides confidence over the expected costs from the start.
Hourly rates
Where matters are more complex, we may need to charge our service fees based on the solicitor’s hourly rate. This will only be where a higher level of expertise and ongoing support is required.
So that you are aware of the expected costs, our cohabitation solicitors in Bournemouth will provide you with a cost estimation at the outset and will never carry out additional work before consulting you first.
Get in touch with our cohabitation agreement solicitors in Bournemouth
To speak to one of our friendly, highly experienced family law solicitors, please contact our Bournemouth office on 01202 292 424 or fill in our online enquiry form for a quick response.