Cohabitation

Research indicates that the majority of the public are unaware of the legal differences between marriage and cohabitation. Most people (61%, according to a recent survey) mistakenly believe that living together can give you the same rights as marriage.

Although cohabitants are now given legal protection in several areas, they and their families have significantly fewer rights and responsibilities than people who are married or have a civil partnership.

One Plus One's website "Married or Not" provides at-a-glance information on the legal differences between married and unmarried couples, along with direct links to additional sources of information and help to download a directory of organisations providing expert advice.

The web site was created as part of the Government-backed campaign 'Living Together' to dispel the common law marriage myth and to better inform cohabiting couples in England and Wales of their legal rights. Why not check it out today, and make your decision an informed one?

Same-sex couples have traditionally been in the vulnerable position of having fewer rights than other cohabiting couples AND being unable to get married. Happily, all this inequality is a thing of the past. To find out more please have a look at the advice for Same-sex couples on the Advice Now Website.

The Living Together campaign aims to increase awareness and understanding of the legal issues around living together and aims to make both opposite and same sex cohabitants more aware of their legal status and provide them with practical advice on how they can protect themselves and their families, should they wish to do so.

This advice includes:

For further information please see the LivingTogether section on the Advice Now website.