Cohabitation Agreement Solicitors in Manchester, Stockport & London

According to the latest census figures, the number of cohabiting couples in England and Wales increased by 144% between 1996 and 2021, from 1.5 million to 3.6 million. Yet cohabiting couples have far fewer legal rights than married couples or civil partners. If the relationship ends, the financial consequences can be severe, particularly where property is involved.

Our cohabitation solicitors advise couples on protecting their rights before issues arise and represent clients in disputes when a relationship breaks down. We see clients at our offices in Manchester, Stockport and London.

The common law marriage myth

Common law marriage does not exist in England and Wales. This is one of the most widely held and damaging legal misconceptions in the country. No matter how long you have lived together, if you are not married or in a civil partnership, you have no automatic right to a share of your partner’s property, no right to spousal maintenance if the relationship ends, and no automatic inheritance rights if they die without a will.

If you own property together, have joint finances, or have made significant contributions to a partner’s property, a Cohabitation Agreement and specialist legal advice can protect your position.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Cohabitation Agreement?

A Cohabitation Agreement (sometimes called a Living Together Agreement) is a written contract between two people who live together but are not married or in a civil partnership. It records how property, assets and finances are owned and how they would be divided if the relationship ends. It can also cover arrangements for children and next-of-kin rights.

While not automatically legally binding in the same way as a court order, a properly drafted Cohabitation Agreement prepared by a solicitor and signed by both parties provides strong evidence of your intentions and significantly strengthens your position if there is a dispute.

ToLATA claims: when a relationship breaks down

Where a cohabiting relationship breaks down and there is a dispute about property (particularly where one partner has contributed to a property they do not legally own), either party may bring a claim under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (ToLATA). The court can determine the size of each party’s share in a property and order a sale if necessary.

Constructive trust arguments (where someone claims a share in property based on a common intention between the parties and their own financial contributions) also arise frequently in cohabitation disputes. These cases require careful evidence and experienced representation.

How much does a Cohabitation Agreement cost?

The cost depends on the complexity of the arrangements to be recorded. A straightforward agreement for a couple purchasing a property together is less involved than one covering existing property, significant assets, or children. We offer a free initial consultation so you know what to expect before committing to anything.

Cohabitation support across Manchester, Stockport and London

We advise clients from our Manchester (949 Stockport Road, M19 3NP), Stockport (The Tannery, Water St, SK1 2BP) and London (2-10 Tavistock Street, WC2E 7PP) offices.

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I highly recommend Nayyar Solicitiors. I still remember my very first phone call to the team at an extremely challenging time of my life, when I felt overwhelmed with my situation. This initial contact, plus all contact with the team since has helped put me at ease, as I have felt heard, reassured, and supported from the outset.

Since then, I have worked with Ayesha Nayaar. I am especially grateful for, as she is exceptional. Ayesha\’s approach is one built on empathy and compassion and professionalism, and I have felt supported and reassured throughout. Ayesha has a wealth of knowledge, where she has clearly explained my options to me at each stage of the process and provided clear sound advice and supoort. After a lengthy and challenging court battle I am pleased to finally close this chapter with a win, and the absolute best available outcome for my self and my children.. I cannot thank her enough.

Thank you Ayesha and the team at Nayyars Solicitors..

I was very sceptical before calling Nayyars solicitors, I had sleepless nights thinking how traumatic this experience would be. I spoke with Misbahur Rahman family solicitor he put my mind at ease, reassured me things would be ok and walked me thorough step by step and broke everything down for me. I have spoken to other solicitors in the past all with the same attitude, Limited time bombarded with information mind couldn\’t comprehend. Definitely will be representing me in court and and through this divorce.

Very helpful and was given excellent advice on how to proceed with the visa application and all the way Aalia helped with all the information, and I am very happy I had Nayar Solicitor to do my mother-in-law\’s visa application I recommend Nayar Solicitor for all your immigration needs very good service. I cannot thank you enough. Thank you.

My brother has recently used the services Nayyars Solicitors offer and he has no other feedback than EXCELLENT! Special shout out goes to Lucy, a professional easygoing and knowledgeable individual. A separate shout out to all the individual that were involved in the case too! My brother is now happy and has been reunited with his son after not seeing him for a very long time! A big thanks to the firm for sealing it through and it’s such a great feeling to see a father and son back together. Amazing feeling and great to witness.

If you ever need legal assistance with private family law proceedings, then I can 100% say, with certainty, Nayyars Solicitors are the best.

My case was dealt with by Umme-Ayman in the Family Department. From the outset of explaining my case, Umme-Ayman showed compassion, professionalism and care in how to navigate my case. She spent time in having a preliminary review of the facts of the case and advised me clearly, on what steps should be taken in a systematic and clear manner. Umme-Ayman provides a very tailored and 1-1 service and you really feel valued as a client.

Throughout my case, I quickly learnt that Umme is extremely well versed in the way she explains things and does so in a natural and easy to follow manner. Representing me for a year and a half, she always addressed each point whether by email or on the phone, so well that I literally always got the answers that I needed or wanted. Umme clearly knows the Family Law sector and dealing with the Courts and Solicitors very well. Umme is approachable and on hand whenever that was required. By extension, the Principal of the Firm, Ayesha Nayyar was someone I spoke to a number of times and she was courteous and down to earth every time. At times, I was also put in touch with a colleague of Umme\’s, Misbahur Rehman who works complimentary to Umme and was also professional and well-versed in his legal knowledge. The team as a whole are exceptional.

No one wants to find them in a situation where they are having to go through a legal battle but if you are in this position, I would hand on heart, strongly recommend instructing Umme, and by extension, Nayyars Solicitors to fight your corner. 11/10 from me!

I had the pleasure of working with Umme-Ayman at Nayyar Solicitors for almost a year, and I honestly couldn’t have asked for better support. Umme was an absolute gem throughout what felt like a never ending cycle of unnecessary delays and unrealistic demands from the other side. While some people seemed more focused on being greedy than actually settling fairly, Umme remained calm, focused, and completely unfazed by the rubbish.

Her ability to stay clear headed and give no-nonsense advice was exactly what I needed. She never let the distractions get in the way of what mattered and handled every challenge with quiet strength and sharp thinking.

What really stood out for me was Umme’s consistency. Her communication was always clear and honest. Even when things got complicated, she remained calm and made sure everything stayed on track. She has this rare mix of being both approachable and assertive, and her ability to focus on the facts while others tried to make things more complicated was great.

I can’t recommend Umme enough if you need someone who combines brains, composure and subtle boss energy, even when the other side is busy fantasizing imaginary payouts.

Cohabitation Agreement Solicitors in Manchester, Stockport & London

The common law marriage myth

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