Many of you may be considering cohabiting with a partner for the first time to share the costs, but also to begin a new chapter in life together.
If you are considering cohabiting with your partner, it is important to enter into a cohabitation agreement to ensure a smooth route to a successful living arrangement.
What is a cohabitation agreement?
Cohabiting families are the fastest-growing type of family in the UK, and yet many couples are unaware of the limited legal rights that they have should something happen to their partner or if the relationship breaks down.
Cohabitation agreements are often made between unmarried partners who wish to live together.
The agreement will set out how to share finances, what happens if one person becomes ill, how rents or other financial commitments will need to be paid and how the individuals intend to share their assets.
For the agreement to be valid, it must be entered into freely, be in the form of a deed, be signed by each person and be kept up to date with major life changes. Each party should also seek independent legal advice beforehand.
How should I ask my partner for a cohabitation agreement?
If you want to enter into a cohabitation agreement, asking your partner can be challenging and feel unromantic.
However, you should assure them that there are many benefits to making a cohabitation agreement, such as providing certainty during certain scenarios that might offer peace of mind.
Other benefits include reducing the possibility of disputes, freedom to arrange one’s finances and avoiding financial repercussions of another party’s actions.
Cohabitation agreements are aimed at unmarried couples, who have far fewer legal rights than married couples or civil partnerships, and thus are an important contract to obtain.
If you need advice on cohabitation, please contact us today.
