Peterborough office

48 Broadway, Peterborough Cambridgeshire, PE1 1YW

01733 346 333 01733 562 338 enquiries@hegarty.co.uk

Stamford office

10 Ironmonger Street, Stamford Lincolnshire, PE9 1PL

01780 752 066 01780 762 774 enquiries@hegarty.co.uk

Oakham office

66 South Street, Oakham Rutland, LE15 6BQ

01572 757 565 01572 720 555 enquiries@hegarty.co.uk

Market Deeping office

27a Market Place, Market Deeping, PE6 8EA

01778 230 120 01778 230 129 enquiries@hegarty.co.uk

Bourne office

11a North Street, Bourne, PE10 9AE

01778 230 030 enquiries@hegarty.co.uk
  • Services
  • Sectors
  • Our Team
  • About us
  • Insights & Legal
  • Legal Q&As
  • Useful information
  • Contact us
  • Careers
  • Q. My partner and I now own a house together and are cohabiting but we are not married, are we treated the same as married couples?

    A. The simple answer to this question is no, unfortunately not. The Court has much wider discretion to assist separating married couples than unmarried couples thanks to the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. For cohabiting couples, if you wish to determine how your assets are to be treated if your relationship breaks down, you would need a Cohabitation Agreement.  For cohabiting couples, if a dispute arises when your relationship breaks down, it is generally governed by civil law.

    The largest asset you are likely to own is your home which would be dealt with under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, known as “TLATA” and the outcome is generally based on what was originally agreed between you, subject to some complex exceptions. Unmarried couples are also treated very differently to married couples under the law when one of the parties dies, for example, cohabiting couples do not automatically become entitled to the other’s estate by virtue of living together. This is unlike those who are married who, by virtue of the legal status of marriage, are so entitled. You can address this though by having Wills drawn up appointing each other as beneficiaries. 

    If you would like further advice, please contact Chris Brown at Hegarty Solicitors on 01733 295 627 or email chris.brown@hegarty.co.uk.  

    Stay up-to-date with Hegarty