Living together
The short answer is: NEVER….there’s no such thing as a ‘common law husband’ or a ‘common law wife’. No matter how long you have lived with someone, you are not ‘married’ by common law.
If you are not married, it is important to understand what rights you might have and you should get specialist advice. Please call Celia or Samantha on 01752 222211 to arrange your free, no obligation consultation.
The rights and duties which parents have over their children are called ‘parental responsibility’. On a day to day basis, having parental responsibility means you should be involved in major decisions about how your child is brought up. This includes things like choosing how and where they are educated, getting them medical treatment and having a guaranteed say in things like a change of surname or moving abroad.
The rules about parental responsibility are different for unmarried dads but some changes have been made to try to bring things more into line with married dads. However, even with these changes, your position will depend on when your child was born and your circumstances.
If you are not sure where you stand and would like advice about your position, please call Celia or Samantha on 01752 222211 to arrange your free, no obligation consultation.
The answer is that it will depend on your circumstances… Dividing money and property when you have chosen not to marry can actually be more complicated than dividing it in a divorce.
This does not mean that people who have been cohabiting cannot claim anything from each other. Also, it is important to know that just because a property is or isn’t in your name that may not be the end of the matter.
If you would like advice about protecting yourself, please call Celia or Samantha on 01752 222211 to arrange your free, no obligation consultation.
A cohabitation agreement is a contract which, if properly prepared, can deal with all sorts of issues which are important to you and your partner. It can help organise things during your relationship and help to protect you from expensive legal arguments if your relationship ends.
It’s always important that you get specialist advice about your options to help decide how best to protect yourself and your family. If you would like advice about your options, please call Celia or Samantha on 01752 222211 to arrange your free, no obligation consultation.