COHABITANTS
The law for people who live together is completely different from those couples who are married. You do not have the same legal rights if you live together. There is no such thing as a common law wife. People who live together as husband and wife have no rights to claim maintenance for themselves from their partner or for example make a claim on their partner's pension. People who live together as husband and wife are treated separately as couples of the same sex (civil partnership)
The law concentrates much more on what direct financial contributions you have made to the relationship. Have you paid part of the deposit on any property you have bought? Have you paid for work and repairs to the property? Do you pay the mortgage?
The issues concerning the legal ownership of the property are much more complicated than if you were married. It is always difficult in a financial dispute between couples who live together to decide who paid for what and litigation can be expensive.
A high percentage of cohabitating couples do not have written agreements about ownership of the family home. Every cohabitating couple should carefully consider entering into a Cohabitation Agreement, especially if they have children. A Cohabitation Agreement can specifically record how the parties intend to share the proceeds of sale in the event of a relationship breakdown. Such an agreement can also deal with personal property and household items as well as intentions with regard to the couples financial arrangements. Time and effort organising these affairs from the outset can save costs in the event that the relationship should break down.