Unmarried couples
The law relating to unmarried couples differs vastly from the law applicable to married couples or those in a civil partnership. There is a common misconception that a couple who live together acquire the status of a ‘common law husband/wife’ and an entitlement to the same rights of those who marry or enter into a civil partnership. This is not correct and the concept of a ‘common law husband/wife’ does not exist in UK law.
How our family team can help you protect your position if you are unmarried
Upon a relationship breakdown, the court has a much narrower discretion in respect of the orders it can make, irrespective of how long an unmarried couple may have been living together, although the court does have greater powers, under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989, should there be children involved.
There are ways you can protect yourself when living with a partner, in the event of a separation, which can help mitigate the risk and minimise the likelihood of a future dispute or lengthy and costly court proceedings, for example entering into a Declaration of Trust and/or a Cohabitation Agreement.
Our specialist family lawyers in Bromley, West Wickham, Beckenham, Sevenoaks and London can provide you with the advice and assistance in drawing up documentation to protect your position, as well as acting on your behalf should a dispute arise, whether in relation to a property or financial provision for the benefit of a child.
Change of name
Have you considered changing your name or the name of your child? Our team can assist with a change of name for you or on behalf of a child, either on an enrolled or unenrolled basis.
Thinking about your next steps with a family matter?
We’re offering a free 30-minute telephone consultation to help you understand how our firm supports clients through divorce, parenting arrangements, property matters and more. This initial conversation is designed to learn about your situation, answer general questions about our services, and help you decide whether we’re the right fit for you.
There’s no obligation—just a chance to talk with a dedicated family lawyer and explore your options moving forward. Terms and conditions apply please speak to the team for more details.
After your free consultation, we may invite you to become a client of the firm. Until you formally engage us, we are still able to speak with your ex-partner or spouse if they contact us separately. Once you choose to instruct us, we will represent you exclusively and will no longer be able to speak with them about the matter.
To contact us with any enquiry, please fill in the following form so that a relevant legal advisor can contact you as soon as possible.
