Disputes between Unmarried Partners about Money

Our family law team includes members of the Law Society’s Family Panel, accredited Resolution specialists and Collaborative Family Lawyers who specialise in resolving disputes between unmarried parties.

 If you are not married, there is no automatic right to make a financial claim against your former partner in the event of a separation. There is no such thing as a 'common-law husband' or 'common-law wife' and living in a property that you do not legally own for any set period of time will not create an interest in it for you.

If you are not married to your partner, you will not be able to make a claim against your partner for maintenance, a lump sum of money or for a share of your partner's pension.

You may, however, be able to make a claim regarding a property if you jointly own that property with your partner or, in limited circumstances, if your partner owns a property that you live/lived in that is in his or her sole name. This is a tricky area of family law, and our specialist separation solicitors have experience in dealing with disputes between unmarried partners about finances.