Cohabitation Agreements

Cohabitation Agreements

OUR FAMILY LAW TEAM GENUINELY CARE ABOUT OUR CLIENT'S

OUR FAMILY LAW TEAM CAN ASSIST YOU IN A FAIR AND ROBUST AGREEMENT

Cohabitation Agreements

“A friend recommended KLR to me and I used them on a number of occasions for family, property and probate matters. They helped me a great deal. Very professional and efficient at reasonable cost. I will definitely use them in the future.” 

cohabitation agreements

Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a ‘common law marriage’ under UK law. Presently, couples who live together (cohabitees) enjoy little legal protection if they separate. This is despite them being the fastest growing family group in the UK.


Our family law team can assist you with creating and drafting a fair and robust Cohabitation Agreement, which will set out how property and assets will be divided should you separate. We can also advise and represent you if you wish to claim on the family home under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA).

What is a Cohabitation Agreement?

A Cohabitation Agreement is a legally binding contract entered into with the person you live with if you are unmarried or not in a Civil Partnership. A Cohabitation Agreement can set out:

• How the upkeep costs, bills, and mortgage of your shared home will be paid.
• Who owns the property and assets you have together and in what portions?
• What will happen in the event of a separation to those property and assets.
• How joint debts will be paid.
• Who shall be nominated for death-in-service benefits and life insurances?

If you and your partner are cohabitees you must also make a legally valid Will. Failure to do so will mean dying intestate and the laws of intestacy do not provide for live-in partners, regardless of the length of the relationship.

How can I claim under TOLATA?

TOLATA gives the Courts certain powers when it comes to resolving land ownership disputes. Under the Act, the Court can:

• Order the property to be sold.
• Rule who is entitled to live in the property.
• Decide the nature and extent of ownership of the property.

We can advise and represent you in TOLATA claims. As members of resolution, our family law Solicitors follow a strict Code of Practice and will do everything possible to resolve property ownership disputes through negotiation and mediation, which are less expensive methods than going to Court.  

Our cohabitation lawyers will provide practical, caring, expert advice in relation to any cohabitation matter.  

For a free consultation regarding Cohabitation Agreements or separation, please call us on 0208 300 6666 or complete the form below.

1 Hour Free Consultation on Cohabitation Agreements

Sound legal advice is based on years of training, hard work, and passion, as well as familiarity with legislation and precedent and sound consideration. You’ll find all that and more at KLR Solicitors. 

We are currently only taking on Family Law, Conveyancing, Immigration, Wills & Probate work.


If you are looking for Legal aid that can help meet the costs of legal advice, family mediation and representation in a court or tribunal, please go to this link first to check your eligibility on the Gov.uk website.

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