Cohabitation
Cohabiting couples may make up the fastest growing family type, but the law doesn't recognise these couples in the same way as those who are married or in a civil partnership.
If you and your partner aren’t married or in a civil partnership, you might be surprised that you have very little legal protection if you break up.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve lived together for years or have children. You are not legally recognised as a couple, making it very difficult to claim a share in the family home or your partner’s finances if you split.
For couples living together it can seem normal for one partner to give up work to care for children or elderly relatives – or for the couple to make a verbal agreement where one pays the mortgage and the other pays the bills. But without having an agreement in place, the court can’t make your ex pay maintenance to support you just because it might be fair.
Resolution is campaigning for cohabiting couples to have at least basic rights on relationship breakdown or death of their partner, and is also working to raise awareness so cohabiting couples can take measures to protect themselves.