Our cohabitation solicitors’ services in Tunbridge Wells
Phone: 01892 280475
Address: Pluto House, 6 Vale Avenue, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1DJ
Email: [email protected]
Our award-winning team
Our firm is included in the Times Top 200 list of legal practices in England and Wales, showing our commitment to offering quality legal services. We were double winners at the Modern Law Private Client Awards 2024. We also won the Legal Business Awards 2023 – Private Client Team of the Year. Our expertise is acknowledged in the two leading directories in the UK: Chambers UK and the Legal 500.
At Family Law Partners, we aim to resolve matters outside the courtroom where possible. Our divorce solicitors are members of Resolution, a national group committed to reducing conflict during separation.
Our team specialises in mediation and collaborative law. These excellent conflict resolution methods will minimise the likelihood of further disputes.
Expert advice and recommendation
Our cohabitation solicitors provide an initial consultation so we can answer any initial queries you may have. At Family Law Partners, we specialise in practical and empathetic solutions that ensure your wishes are the absolute priority.
Contact our cohabitation solicitors in Tunbridge Wells.
Our cohabitation lawyers’ fees
We are committed to accessibility and offer flexible funding options for our solicitors’ fees, including taking on work on a Litigation Funding or Agreed Fee basis. Please contact our Tunbridge Wells office to learn more.
Cohabitation agreements
Unmarried couples have less rights than married couples do. A cohabitation agreement for unmarried partners can offer you some financial protection and security in the event of separation.
A cohabitation agreement establishes how your property and finances will be handled should you separate. This helps to mitigate the likelihood of contentious disputes between you and your partner.
If you are considering creating a cohabitation agreement, it is important to seek the advice of an experienced cohabitation agreement solicitor. They will help you draft an agreement bespoke to your requirements that includes plans for the future of your assets and finances, as well as liability for bills and other expenses.
At Family Law Partners, our cohabitation lawyers will protect your best interests when drafting an agreement. We can also provide independent advice and negotiation assistance to give you confidence during what can be an uncertain time.
Separation for unmarried couples
We can provide sensitive and practical advice if you are separating from your partner. If necessary, we can enforce the rights detailed in your cohabitation agreements. It is important to seek the advice of experienced cohabitation lawyers to ensure that the splitting of assets and finances, as well as other issues such as children, are dealt with professionally.
As we pride ourselves on alternative conflict resolution, we will always endeavour to resolve your disputes outside of court using mediation or collaborative law.
However, we appreciate that sometimes court is a necessary process to ensure that you receive a fair outcome. We will provide expert representation, utilising our specialised knowledge to prepare a strong case.
Cohabitation law FAQs
What rights do I have as a cohabitee?
Cohabitation laws and marriages are very different. You will only receive assets in your name if you split up with a partner. Therefore, unless your name is on the deeds to a shared property, you may not have any rights to it. However, if you claim under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA), you may be able to prove you have an interest in it. Nevertheless, this is complex and should be done using legal counsel.
In contrast, a cohabitation agreement clearly establishes your interests from the offset. You will have legal proof of the rights and liabilities in your name, reducing the chance of future disputes. Our cohabitation solicitors in Tunbridge Wells will ensure that a cohabitation agreement is representative of your interests.
What is included in a cohabitation agreement?
Our cohabitation agreement lawyers will work with you to create a bespoke agreement that is tailored to your situation. A cohabitation agreement will detail how shared assets and liabilities will be divided should you separate.
Clauses that are typically present include:
- Who will be responsible for the mortgage or rent
- How other outgoings will be dealt with when you live together
- What will happen to property that you own, including property in one party’s sole name, should you separate
- What will happen to your assets, should you separate
- Whether any allowance will be made if one party gives up their career to care for children
- What payments will be made to support children
- Who owns any pets that you have
Is a cohabitation agreement legally binding?
A cohabitation agreement is legally binding if it is drafted as a deed and correctly executed. Partners must disclose their full financial information to each other before signing and seek independent legal advice.
It is also vital that neither party is placed under undue influence or unfairly coerced. Please contact our cohabitation solicitors in Tunbridge Wells for more advice on this matter.
Should I review my cohabitation agreement?
If you undergo any major life changes, such as having children or receiving an inheritance, it is important to review your cohabitation agreement. Our cohabitation solicitors in Tunbridge Wells will ensure that any changes clearly reflect your circumstances and prioritise your wishes.
Insights for cohabiting couples from our experts
- Cohabitation and separation – what every cohabiting couple should know
- Equitable accounting – what unmarried home owners need to know
- Separation rights for cohabiting couples
- Cohabitation and property: Unmarried co-owners – what documentation should you collate?
- Marriage -v- Cohabitation
- Top Ten Benefits of Mediation
- Co-parenting – essential guidance for separating parents
Contact our cohabitation solicitors in Tunbridge Wells
To get in contact with one of our friendly and professional cohabitation solicitors, please call our Tunbridge Wells office on 01892 280475 or email us at [email protected].
If you would like an appointment with one of our specialists in Brighton, London, Horsham, Tunbridge Wells, Ascot, Chelmsford, Eastbourne, Fleet, Petersfield or Winchester then please contact us on 0330 055 2234.