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Separation

Navigating the breakdown of a relationship is challenging and can be particularly difficult for couples who are not married or in a civil partnership. Our experienced family law solicitors provide clear practical advice to help you understand your rights and protect your financial and family interests.

Legal rights for unmarried couples

Unlike married couples, cohabiting partners do not benefit from the same legal protections under family law in England and Wales.

Many people are not aware that cohabitation alone does not create automatic rights to property or financial support.

Property and financial claims

Disputes over property are common when unmarried couples separate. If you jointly own a property, your rights will depend on how ownership is recorded, for example, as joint tenants or tenants in common with a Declaration of Trust.

If the property is in one partner’s sole name, the other may still have a claim if they contributed financially or there was a shared intention to own the property together.

Provision for children

If you have children, it may be possible to apply for financial provision for the child from the other parent.

The court has the power to make orders for lump sum payments, settlement or transfer of property or periodical payments, for example.

These claims are designed to meet the child’s needs, not to provide long-term financial benefit to the parent and can be made in addition to a claim for child maintenance.

How our family law team can help

Our family law specialists have extensive experience helping unmarried couples protect their interests. We offer:

  • Expert advice on property disputes
  • Guidance on financial provision for children (Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989)
  • Negotiation and mediation to avoid court where possible
  • Representation in court proceedings when necessary.

Arrange an initial consultation

If you are considering separation, or simply want to understand your options, we are here to help. Book an initial consultation with our family law team today to discuss your situation confidentially and find out how we can support you.

Key Contact

Caroline Keeley

Partner, Mediator and Head of Family Law

Meet the team

Contact the team

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What our clients say...

“A very thorough and caring service and assisted in trying to keep costs down for me. I was touched by the understanding and care from Demelza and the team. They were also accurate in what I oculd expect the final settlement to be and also a good forecast of what the total cost would be were I to use TWM.”

Family Law client - October 2025

“I recently went through some very tough personal circumstances and relied on TWM’s finest to support me on several fronts. The personal support I received from their family law team in navigating my divorce was invaluable. Jacky and her team guided me through the process with clarity, kept me updated at every stage, and prepared me for what to expect. During such a difficult time, I was treated with humility, support, and genuine understanding. I truly felt like I had a team behind me carrying me through. The TWM conveyancing team, specifically Priya and Deen, were phenomenal. I needed an exceptionally swift service to complete the transfer of ownership of my property into my sole name. The deadlines were incredibly tight, but the service I received from Priya exceeded every expectation. She dealt with me with humility, honesty, and speed, always keeping me informed and managing expectations, yet she still managed to surpass them all. Without the incredible support from TWM, my personal situation would have been unimaginably harder. Because of the outstanding service I received from Jacky and Priya, I will remain a lifelong TWM customer.”

Google Review - September 2025

“Rebecca Cozens was an absolute delight to have as a lawyer. She listened and offered solutions, detailed information and meticulous follow-up to the meeting. I was impressed with her knowledge and her calm presence.”

The Legal 500 - 2025

“Rebecca is an exceptional lawyer who is continuously supportive and has excelled as my divorce lawyer. Not only is Rebecca compassionate, she is an excellent advocate with an extensive range of family law experience which has proved invaluable in my case.”

The Legal 500 - 2025

“I was represented in court today by Justin Osei I was very impressed by the way he fought my case and he made the whole process very straightforward a brilliant service would highly recommend”

Family Law client

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