Many couples decide to live together rather than marry with the belief that after they have been living together for a couple of years they become “common law husband and wife”, with the same rights as married couples.  This is not the case, they have very few of the same rights as married couples or civil partners.

Despite this, there are steps that you can take to protect yourself and your partner which can help minimise the legal and financial problems which may arise if you decide to separate, or if one of you were to die.