More and more couples in the UK are choosing to live together without getting married or entering into a civil partnership. While this can be a positive and flexible arrangement, many people don’t realise that “common law marriage” is a myth and has no legal status in England and Wales. This means that, without proper legal protection, you could face financial uncertainty if the relationship ends.

At Straw & Pearce, we help couples protect their interests and plan for the future with clear, legally binding Cohabitation Agreements/Living Together Agreements and Separation Agreements.

A Cohabitation Agreement (sometimes called a “living together agreement”) is a legal document that sets out how you and your partner will share finances, property, and responsibilities while living together — and what should happen if you separate.

It can cover:

• Ownership of your home and contributions to the mortgage or rent
• How household bills, debts, and savings are shared
• Ownership of valuable items (such as cars or furniture)
• Arrangements for children (although parenting agreements are separate)
• What happens if one of you moves out or the relationship ends

Having a written agreement can help avoid disputes and give both partners peace of mind.

A Separation Agreement is a legal document used when a relationship ends, to record how assets, debts, and responsibilities will be divided. It’s particularly useful for:

• Unmarried couples who are separating
• Married couples  not yet ready for divorce (less likely since the introduction of the no fault divorce)
• Civil partners not yet ready to dissolve their partnership (less likely since the no fault dissolution of civil partnerships.)

A Separation Agreement can include:

• Division of property, savings, and possessions
• Child maintenance and living arrangements
• Debt repayments
• Temporary financial support

While not automatically legally binding, a well-drafted agreement prepared by solicitors and supported by full financial disclosure can carry significant weight if later reviewed by a court.

At Straw & Pearce, our specialist lawyers will ensure your agreement is fair, comprehensive, and gives you the protection you need.

This service is charged at an hourly rate however prior to instructing us on an hourly rate basis, you could take advantage of our one hour fixed fee meeting which will provide you with general initial advice regarding the issues above that may be relevant to you if you are thinking about ending your relationship and are uncertain of the best way forward for your circumstances.

If you need cohabitation advice, get in touch with a member of the friendly Straw & Pearce team today to find out more about how we can help.