Living together
For couples who live together but are not married, the path to agreement may be longer and more complicated as each partners’ rights are not as clear cut. Being unmarried could mean that entitlement to certain finances is very different than for those who are married.
Pensions
There is no legal ability to split pensions between unmarried couples, so if one partner has had significant time out of work to care for children, meaning that they do not have a company pension, they will not be entitled to part of their partner’s pension as they would be if they were married.
Cohabitation and children
Whether a couple is married or not, the law in relation to the arrangements for their children is the same. However, the law regarding the financial arrangements that can be made for a couple who are not married but have children is very different to that available for married couples.
If the children are to remain in the family home with one parent, the other may only be obliged to pay maintenance for the children and nothing more. We can advise you on what financial claims could be made based on your own situation.
Mediation can help
In these circumstances, mediation is particularly valuable as we will work with both parties to find compromises to make the wellbeing of any children the top priority. This may mean some concessions on either side, but we will always encourage parents to make decisions that are right for the children first and foremost, ensuring they get what they need to live their lives with as little disruption as possible.
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