Episode #78: The legal rights of unmarried couples living together and the financial implications of ending a cohabitating relationship

In this episode, Kate was joined by Angela Lally who is a qualified solicitor specialising in Family Law to discuss cohabitation when a relationship ends.

With over 20 years’ of experience, Angela has focused her practice on the financial aspects arising out of relationship breakdown, for both married and cohabiting couples. Kate and Angela begin the episode by discussing the rights cohabitating couples have compared with those who are married or in civil partnerships. Many will be surprised to learn there is no such thing as a common-law husband or wife, and this myth can have some dangerous financial consequences. They look at ways to protect yourself from future conflict if your relationship breaks down after cohabiting and complications around property whether or you’re not named on the deeds. Perhaps the biggest contrast between how finances are dealt with for married and cohabiting relationships is to do with pensions and the inequality this can create for anyone sacrificing a career to care for children. They finish with their thoughts on cohabitation law reforms and in their absence, the advice to make sure you engage your partner in a conversation about your finances if you are cohabiting in England or Wales.

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