With one in three marriages ending in divorce, and more people deciding neither to get married nor enter into a Civil Partnership, understanding your rights as a co-habitant is essential. 

Did you know, for example, that there is no such thing as a common law wife?  

Many people think that because they have been living together, and may have had children together, that they are entitled to a share in a property, financial support if the relationship ends or to receive money on their partner's death. Unless there is an Agreement, a Will or a Trust, none of that may be true. 

Equally, when relationships break down, people are sometimes surprised that they have to walk away with nothing. Over recent years there has been a trend towards having Co-Habitation Agreements and Pre-Nuptial Agreements. The Courts are slowly moving towards taking these into consideration when relationships end. As time goes by, it seems inevitable that these agreements will take on more significance. 

Sometimes, relationships don't work out. Sometimes, relationships are far from ideal, and one partner in the relationship suffers physical, emotional or sexual violence at the hands at someone they thought they could love and trust. The impact of this is being more and more recognised, and the Police, Judges and the whole justice system recognises that something must be done.