Separation following cohabitation and cohabitation disputes can result in unpleasant surprises for those involved as there is no such thing as ‘common law marriage’.
Couples who live together rather than marrying or forming a civil partnership, have different legal rights if the relationship breaks down, and the law in this area is continually developing and quite unlike the law about divorce and dissolution of civil partnerships.
Our family team across our Newcastle and South Shields offices contains Resolution accredited professional in cohabitation disputes and we can, therefore, offer a high level of expertise in this potentially complex area of law.
However, we also know that the breakdown of any relationship is a profoundly stressful time. It is very common for people going through a relationship breakdown to feel confused, distressed and anxious about what the future holds.
We will listen to your concerns and talk you through the various options. This includes advising you about the different processes for resolving the issues of the cohabitation dispute you are facing, including family mediation and collaborative family law.
We also have good links with non-legal support services that you may find helpful at this difficult time.