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.
Housing
Living with your partner, whether you rent or own your home, can sometimes play havoc with your housing rights. It is best to know the score so that you can ensure you and your partner will always have a roof over your heads.
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.
Money and benefits
We explain how living with your partner affects your benefits and the amount of tax you have to pay. We also look at money and debts, and whether you are financially responsible for eachother.
Wills and inheriting
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...
Inheritance tax
Inheritance tax is no longer just a problem for the filthy-rich and it is particularly a problem for cohabiting couples. In this guide, we show you what you can do to avoid leaving your partner with a whacking great Inheritance...
Pensions
We explain how you may encounter problems with your pensions because you are not married and what you can do about it. It also shows you what to do now to ensure you and your partner will both be ok in your retirement, whatever...
Breaking up
As the song says, breaking up is ‘hard to do’, and never is this more true than for couples who live together. Whether you and your ex are angry and bitter or managing to stay on fairly ok terms, it's never easy to sort things...
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.
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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,
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