Most people think that if you live with your partner for a couple of years you get the same rights as married couples. But this isn’t true. Couples who live together have hardly any rights automatically.
On these pages we explain exactly what rights couples living together really have, and the simple steps they can take to protect themselves and their families from whatever the future holds.
The LivingTogether Campaign is funded by the Ministry of Justice.
For genuine media enquiries please contact our PR department.
Introduction
Despite popular belief, couples who live together have hardly any rights compared with married couples or civil partners. This article is an overview of what happens when unmarried couples split up or when one dies.
Moving In
Moving in with your partner is exciting. But where you move into, and how you pay for things affects your rights. It's important to know how, so that you can ensure your partner doesn't always get the fuzzy end of the lollipop.
Breaking up
Breaking up is famously ‘hard to do’, and never is this more true than for couples who live together. Whether your break up is acrimonious or deeply civilised it's never easy to sort things out tidily and fairly. We show you how.
Wills & Inheritance Issues
Two thirds of people in the UK die before they make a will. If you are cohabiting, you cannot afford to be one of them. Without a will, your partner won't automatically inherit anything from you, no matter how long you've been together...
Money
We explain how cohabiting affects your money, debts, benefits, pension, and tax. And we explain what you might have to consider doing to prevent your partner from being penniless and/or landed with a huge tax bill if you died.
Children
Are you unmarried with kids? Well, you're not alone. But are your rights and responsibilities for your children affected by whether or not you are married? We explain where you stand.
Next of Kin
Ever worried how the hospital would treat you if your partner had an accident or became ill? Would they understand that you are the closest person to your partner? Would they treat you as next of kin?
Same-sex couples
Same-sex couples have traditionally been in the vulnerable position of having fewer rights than other cohabiting couples and being unable to get married. Happily, all this inequality is a thing of the past.
Is the law going to change?
For a while, it looked like the law might be changed to make it fairer for unmarried couples when their relationship ends or their partner dies without leaving a will. Now, however, it doesn't look so likely ...
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Married or not - One Plus One
Married or not looks at the differences between marriage and cohabitation, what your rights are, and how to raise some of the trickier issues with your partner.
One Plus One are partners in the LivingTogether project,
Get advice
Use the Community Legal Advice website to find an adviser or solicitor in your area.
Go to www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk or find other sources of help.
