Cohabitation agreement (England & Wales)

Use this document to create a cohabitation agreement to protect the interests of a cohabiting couple who are not married or in a registered civil partnership, and are either already living together or plan to live together in a home that they are renting or which is owned by one or both parties. This document will regulate the financial interests of the couple during the relationship and, upon termination (should their relationship come to an end), deal with common issues, such as the division of joint assets, the mutual home and joint bank accounts. In England and Wales there is no formal legislation which makes cohabitation agreements legally enforceable, but given that a cohabitation agreement is a contract existing between two parties, so long as it complies with the basic requirements of contract law, it should be legally enforceable (more information on this is included within the notes of this document). Therefore, each member of the couple is advised to take independent legal advice as to the terms and conditions of the agreement before signing it. This agreement is only for use when the parties intend to live in England or Wales.