Cohabitation Awareness Week

January 12th 2018

Jacksons Law Firm met with MP Dr Paul Williams following cohabitation awareness week to discuss how thousands of unmarried couples in Teesside are at risk of losing everything if the relationship breaks down.

Family lawyers, Louisa Bestford and Emma Canham have called on unmarried couples in the Teesside area to take action to protect themselves as they could be vulnerable if the relationship breaks down.

Louisa Bestford and Emma Canham from Jacksons Law Firm made the calls as part of a national Cohabitation Awareness Week that was led by Resolution, who campaign for a fairer family justice system. They recognise that all unmarried couples, whether first time buyers or those who have a family and have lived together a while need protective planning.

Cohabitation Awareness Week aimed to raise awareness about the lack of rights that exist for unmarried couples who live together and this is surprisingly high.

There are about 7 million people in the UK living in this type of relationship, making this the fastest growing family type in the country. Recent figures from a Resolution member survey shows that within the North East there are 64,500 cohabiting couples with no children, 6,400 cohabiting couples with non-dependent children only and 56,700 cohabiting couples with dependent children. That is a staggering 127,500 cohabiting couples who are potentially at risk of losing everything if the relationship ends without any secure agreement in place.

Louisa Bestford explained that most couples have worked with mistakenly believe that they acquire common law rights after living with their partner for a certain amount of time or having children together.

Louisa Bestford of Jacksons Law Firm in Newcastle and Tees said: "It is considered that entering into marriage is a financial gamble because each spouse places their respective financial assets in one pot when they say, I do. As cohabitees there is no pot, the odds are far more unpredictable. Regardless of whether you have spent many years together and given up your career to raise children, as an unmarried couple you could walk away without any financial support.

"The sad reality is that unmarried couples have very limited legal rights and responsibilities towards each other if the relationship breaks down. In a region like the North East where there are many less affluent areas than in other regions savings for a rainy day to fall back on just dont exist.

"A recent example of a case of this nature was when an unmarried couple discovered that they had fallen pregnant, the lady wished to have the child but her partner had children from of a previous marriage and did not feel the same. This was such a fundamental issue they could not agree on and as such their relationship came to an end. In this not uncommon situation the lady found herself in a vulnerable position because as cohabitees she was not entitled to financial support for herself and she had acted to her detriment as the house was is her partners sole name and as such she is not presumed to have any financial interest.

"This is why I urge all cohabiting couples in the North East and throughout the country to consider taking out basic protections, such as a cohabitation agreement to protect both partners if they separate, or think about life insurance. By setting out your intentions in these documents, youll be in a much better situation if the unexpected happens."

Local MP, Dr Paul Williams met with Mrs Louisa Bestford to discuss how Parliament can change the law to give cohabiting couples more protection. MP Dr Paul Williams said: "I am delighted to add my support to the resolution campaign which raises awareness for cohabiting couples that the law as it stands doesnt protect them.

"The Cohabitation Rights Bill is currently in the House of Lords and I will be watching its progress with interest before it comes to the House of Commons later in this Parliament. Louisa and Helen from Jacksons Law in my constituency, explained why it is important that cohabiting partners are protected and the problems that their clients experience during and after family disputes or bereavements."

Jacksons Law firm is one of the North Easts longest established law firms and has been practising in the Tees Valley for over 140 years. Operating from its head office in Stockton on Tees, and an office in Newcastle upon Tyne, it is well placed to assist clients across the region on a wide range of business and personal legal advice.