24/08/2026
“We've lived together for years, so I have the same rights as a married couple.” It's one of the most common myths in family law, and it's wrong.
No matter how long you have lived together, you do not acquire the same rights as a married couple, in England and Wales.
That means property, savings and pensions are not automatically shared, and there is no right to claim spousal maintenance if you separate. Cohabitation is the fastest-growing family type in the UK, yet the law hasn't kept pace.
If you live with a partner, early advice, and sometimes a formal agreement, can protect you both.