Cohabitants

When advising clients in non-marital relationships, understanding the intricate legal landscape is essential. Equip yourself with the latest guidance on rights, financial support, and property disputes to better advocate for cohabitants. Our expertise ensures you are prepared for any scenario.

View Family by content type:

News
Practice notes
Precedents
Q&As

Sub Topics We Cover

Applications under the Married Women's Property Act 1882, s 17 Children Cohabitation contracts Definition of cohabitation Property rights Rights on death

Latest Family News

Family weekly highlights—16 October 2025

Family weekly highlights—16 October 2025

The following Family news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Family weekly highlights—16 October 2025

Domestic Abuse Commissioner reviews how the family courts deal with domestic abuse

Domestic Abuse Commissioner reviews how the family courts deal with domestic abuse
House of Lords urges urgent overhaul of Child Maintenance Service as reforms set for 2025–26

House of Lords urges urgent overhaul of Child Maintenance Service as reforms set for 2025–26

The following Family news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on House of Lords urges urgent overhaul of Child Maintenance Service as reforms set for 2025–26

Obligation to provide position statements to the public in the COP (Re AB)

Obligation to provide position statements to the public in the COP (Re AB)

The following Private Client news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Obligation to provide position statements to the public in the COP (Re AB)

Featured Family content

Procedure—Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989

Procedure—Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989

Procedure—Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989This Practice Note sets out the procedural requirements in relation to an application under Schedule 1 to...

Applications under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997

Applications under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997

Applications under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997This Practice Note explains the six criminal offences that may be committed under the...

Striking out a statement of case

Striking out a statement of case

Striking out a statement of caseThis Practice Note explains the court's power to strike out a statement of case. It summarises the grounds on which a...

The grounds on which a marriage is void

The grounds on which a marriage is void

The grounds on which a marriage is voidA void marriage is one that will be treated by the court as never having taken place. The grounds on which a...

Practice notes

Sequestration (confiscation of assets) within contempt proceedings

Sequestration (confiscation of assets) within contempt proceedingsSequestration is a process for dealing with a contempt of court that would be...
Read More >
Produced in partnership with David Salter
13th Oct
Practice notes

Application to vary, extend or discharge a non-molestation or occupation order

Application to vary, extend or discharge a non-molestation or occupation orderUnder the Family Law Act 1996 (FLA 1996) a non-molestation order is an...
Read More >
30th May
tag iconCOVID-19
Practice notes

Notice to show cause applications in family proceedings

Notice to show cause applications in family proceedingsIf one party considers that an agreement has been reached (usually in relation to financial...
Read More >
2nd Jun
Q&As

What is the procedure to withdraw an application made on Form C100?

What is the procedure to withdraw an application made on Form C100?Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR 2010), SI 2010/2955, 29.4 provides that any...
Read More >
2nd Jun
Precedents

Pre-nuptial agreements—client guide

Pre-nuptial agreements—client guideThis document provides general guidance regarding pre-nuptial agreements. Your family lawyer will be able to...
Read More >
2nd Jun
Practice notes

Steps to take after a client meeting

Steps to take after a client meetingFile noteA file note (also known as an attendance note) should be prepared immediately after the first interview,...
Read More >
30th May
Q&As

Is a divorce petition a public document and can anyone request a copy? If not, is there anything to prevent a party to a divorce from giving copies of the petition to a third party such as an employer?

Is a divorce petition a public document and can anyone request a copy? If not, is there anything to prevent a party to a divorce from giving copies of...
Read More >
2nd Jun
Practice notes

Declarations of parentage—procedure

Declarations of parentage—procedureThe procedure for an application for a declaration of parentage is governed by the Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR...
Read More >
30th May
Practice notes

Working with counsel

Working with counselInstructing counsel to advocate on a client’s behalf should be a matter of careful thought and preparation. The role of counsel is...
Read More >
Produced in partnership with Ursula Rice of Family First Solicitors Ltd
13th Oct
Practice notes

Non-molestation orders

Non-molestation ordersUnder the Family Law Act 1996 (FLA 1996) a non-molestation order is an order prohibiting a person (the respondent) from...
Read More >
30th May
tag iconCOVID-19
Practice notes

Reports under section 37 of the Children Act 1989

Reports under section 37 of the Children Act 1989Under section 37 of the Children Act 1989 (ChA 1989), the court has the power to order an...
Read More >
Produced in partnership with Katherine Illsley of 4 King’s Bench Walk
13th Oct
Q&As

‘Associated persons’ as defined in section 62(3) of Family Law Act 1996 includes people who have, or have had, an intimate personal relationship with each other which is or was of significant duration. How is ‘significant duration’ defined and how long is considered significant?

‘Associated persons’ as defined in section 62(3) of Family Law Act 1996 includes people who have, or have had, an intimate personal relationship with...
Read More >
2nd Jun
Practice notes

Financial clean break orders in family proceedings

Financial clean break orders in family proceedingsDuty of the court to consider a clean breakAlthough there is no presumption in favour of there being...
Read More >
30th May
Q&As

What is the procedure to withdraw a divorce petition that has already been served on the respondent? Will the respondent be notified of any application to withdraw the petition and what does the court take into account in deciding whether the petition should be dismissed?

What is the procedure to withdraw a divorce petition that has already been served on the respondent? Will the respondent be notified of any...
Read More >
2nd Jun
Practice notes

Enforcing an order for sale

Enforcing an order for saleThis Practice Note explains when the court can make an order for the sale of property in proceedings under the Matrimonial...
Read More >
Produced in partnership with David Salter
13th Oct
Q&As

If the respondent to a divorce files a cross petition what steps must the first petitioner take if they wish to defend the cross petition and proceed on the basis of their first petition or they do not wish to defend the cross petition. Does the first petitioner need to file an acknowledgment of service of the cross petition or an answer?

If the respondent to a divorce files a cross petition what steps must the first petitioner take if they wish to defend the cross petition and proceed...
Read More >
Produced in partnership with Chris Bryden of 4 King’s Bench Walk
13th Oct

Popular documents

Case law definitions of cohabitation

Case law definitions of cohabitationThere are various definitions of cohabitation within case law. Under the remedies available to cohabitants, the first step will be to establish that the relationship is sufficient to satisfy a specific remedy. The question of whether cohabitation has taken place

Case law relating to TOLATA 1996 claims

Case law relating to TOLATA 1996 claimsThis Practice Note provides guidance on case law in relation to claims under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA 1996), including the leading decisions in Stack v Dowden and Jones v Kernott. It also considers case law regarding the

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the current registered owner? Or does the informal exoneration only apply to the parties to the document which informally exonerated the rentcharge?This Q&A considers the situation where, at some

If a beneficiary signs a deed of disclaimer of their share of an estate and the estate pays their legal

If a beneficiary signs a deed of disclaimer of their share of an estate and the estate pays their legal fees, will that count as a PET against their estate?A disclaimer is the refusal of a gift prior to acceptance. The refusal of the gift must take place before the beneficiary accepts any benefit