Unmarried couples should prepare for all eventualities says Law Society

The Law Society says unmarried couples are at risk if they don't plan or prepare for all eventualities when co-habiting or combining assets.

Following a recent case where a man who had split up with his co-habiting partner 17 years ago, and was awarded a half share in the house they once lived in, even though he had never paid the mortgage. The house was purchased as joint tenants or co - owners and remained so after the relationship dissolved.

The Law Society says couples should plan for a worst case scenario where they split up and must deal with distribution of their assets, as co-habiting couples have fewer rights than those who are married or in a civil partnership.
Seeking the advice of a solicitor before moving in or breaking up  can help to make this as painless as possible and could save a lot of time and money if you do split up.

Rights surrounding parental responsibility, wills and pensions also differ compared to couples who are married or in a civil partnership. These issues can be explained in detail by a family solicitor.

Date Published: 25-06-2010