Cohabitation Agreements

It is safe to say that couples do not plan for their relationship to break down. However, to protect yourself should the relationship, unfortunately, come to an end, it is good to have a discussion with your partner in regard to how assets will be distributed upon separation instead of waiting for discussions to take place when the relationship has broken down.

If you and your partner have agreed to live together but have no plans for marriage at present, at Consilia Legal, our family law specialists can prepare a cohabitation agreement for you.

A cohabitation agreement is a document of the agreed arrangements between you and your partner both during your relationship and in the event that your relationship breaks down. Having a clear agreement at the outset will hopefully alleviate any issues should the relationship break down which in turn will hopefully save time, money and ensure that matters are dealt with amicably.

The agreement can be tailor made to cover a whole host of issues such as:

• Who is responsible to pay which utility bills;
• How much contribution each party will make towards the mortgage;
• How any shared bank accounts will be utilised;
• If either party has a share in the property and if so what percentage;
• The agreement can also record the ownership of personal items such as cars, furniture, etc., and will record who will retain their ownership.

As with any agreement, there are advantages and risks involved should you decide to proceed with a cohabitation agreement.

We also have expert knowledge and experience dealing with international divorces concerning overseas assets and foreign jurisdiction and have a strong connection with barristers who also specialise in this area to ensure that the very best advice is provided to our clients.