Cohabiting Guide – What You Need To Know
Are you living with your partner and not legally married? Here’s what you need to know to protect your rights. Book your free 15 minute call to start your Cohabitation Agreement.
Overview
A cohabitation agreement is a legally binding document between unmarried couples who are living together (this also applies to couples with an unregistered nikah). They can protect your interests and make sure that what belongs to you, comes back to you.
What Is Cohabitation Agreement?
Did you know that the number of cohabiting couple families increased by 22% between 2012 and 2022? Under the law, they are considered cohabitees with no automatic rights (this also applies to couples with an unregistered nikah). Without a cohabitation agreement, one of you could be left with nothing.
Cohabitation agreements can protect your interests and make sure that what belongs to you, comes back to you.
- What Is A Cohabitation Agreement? It is a legally binding document between unmarried couples who are living together. It sets out arrangements for your finances, property or children while you’re living together and if you split up, become ill or die.
- Who Needs One? Cohabitation Agreements are useful for couples who do not wish to marry or for couples who are in a Nikah-only relationship (nikah is unregistered in the UK). They are a good way to put in place financial arrangements if your relationship ends. You should also consider getting a Will.
- What Rights Can They Protect? It will depend on your relationship. As an example, an agreement can make sure you have a share of each others’ assets; access to each others’ state pension or next of kin rights in a medical emergency.
What To Do Next?
Speak to our team if you’d like to learn more about cohabitation agreements or start drafting your agreement.
- What To Consider – cohabitation agreements are a form of planning. You and your partner should discuss how you would want to divide your assets if your relationship ended. Your assets can include your home, any deposit for your home, any investments, your savings, investments or other joint assets.
If you are in a nikah-only relationship (with no civil registration in the UK), cohabitation agreements and wills are an important tool to protect your rights. If you have any questions, please contact our team.
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