Unmarried relationships

When unmarried relationships hit trouble, there are very specific issues that need to be tackled. In particular, couples who are not married have different legal rights in connection with their children.

We can give clear advice on how the law affects you. If the matter cannot be resolved amicably, we can advise and initiate court proceedings (see Disputes involving children).

Occasionally an injunction may be necessary to ensure the safety of a client or the children, and we act quickly if one is needed.

When buying a property together, couples do not usually think about what will happen to the property if their relationship breaks down. Often problems arise because the law about dividing property between unmarried couples is complex - even when children are not involved. If matters cannot be resolved outside of court, we can advise you about the options open to you.

And, if one party owns the property, but the other has made substantial contributions, we can advise as to who is entitled to be repaid or compensated in some way.

This also applies to those in same-sex relationships selling a jointly owned property. Court proceedings may be necessary if they are unable to agree on the sale or dividing the proceeds.

Click here to read an article by Joanna Brown