Unmarried Couples: Finances and Children Solicitors specialising in the rights of unmarried couples regarding finance and children

At Heald Solicitors, our family lawyers have a wide understanding of the rights of unmarried couples, and we can advise you of your options if your relationship ends.

Despite less protection for those who are not married, you do still have some safeguards and we can advise and represent you to ensure that you are protected as far as possible when it comes to your family home, providing for your children and facilitating arrangements that enable you to care for and spend time with your children.

Financial arrangements for unmarried couples on separation

Unmarried couples do not have an obligation to support each other following separation and will generally keep the assets they hold in their sole names, unless the other partner is able to prove that they have a beneficial interest in that asset. There are several ways that one party can demonstrate that they have a beneficial interest in a property. For example, if one party contributed towards the deposit on a property but does not have their name on the legal title, there may be a trust deed that explicitly sets out the extent of that beneficial interest.

If there is no trust deed, it may still be possible to prove that a direct financial contribution was made towards the deposit on the property. Similarly, if it can be shown that the non-owning partner made direct payments towards the mortgage or paid for any renovations on the property, this may be sufficient to establish a beneficial interest in the property. A beneficial interest means that although the party’s name is not on the title deeds, when the property is sold, they will be entitled to receive a certain percentage of the net sale proceeds.

Establishing a beneficial interest by way of trust is a complicated area of law and it is recommended that legal advice is sought as soon as any uncertainty arises between partners over the ownership of a property.

With jointly owned assets such as property, this is normally divided equally or in accordance with the way it is owned. For example, a home may be owned as tenants in common with one party holding a one-third share and the other holding two-thirds. If the home is owned as joint tenants, then the implication is that it was intended that the property be owned in equal shares, but this is not necessarily always the case.

If one party has contributed a larger share to the purchase of a property and/or has paid more towards the mortgage and/or renovations, it may be possible to claim a larger share of the net equity even if this is not evidenced by a trust deed. It may also be possible to claim a beneficial interest in the property even if you do not own it or if it was purchased on the understanding that you would have a share in it.

Where children are involved, you may be able to stay in a property for a certain period of time even if you do not own it, so that a home can be provided for the children of the family.

Child arrangements for unmarried couples on separation

Both parents have a legal obligation to financially support their children, whether they are married or in a civil partnership. This usually means that the parent who does not have the day-to-day care of the children will pay maintenance to the other parent.

Unmarried parents also have legal rights and responsibilities in respect of their children. Where they have parental responsibility, they have a right to be consulted about certain decisions that are taken and a right to make decisions themselves. By way of example, anyone with parental responsibility must give written consent for a child to be taken out of the country.