Episode 67: Should there be protection for unmarried couples living together? Artwork

Stowe talks

Stowe talks is a podcast series designed to support people going through a relationship breakdown and all the challenges this brings. When a family breaks down, it brings with it a huge range of emotional, practical and legal complications. Going through it is tough, but making some simple changes to how you approach it can help. Asking and seeking support from others is a great first step.And, this is where this podcast series can help, giving you access to expert advice from some of the best professionals around and some legal insight. In each episode, hosts Matthew Taylor and Liza Gatrell, family lawyers at Stowe Family Law, are joined by a special guest to explore the issues a relationship breakdown brings - from dealing with a toxic ex-partner, how to co-parent, the challenges of blended families, handling finances and more. Getting the right advice can help dial down the stress, calm your fears, and help you through the process and on with life from a position of renewed strength. This podcast series is brought to you by the Stowe talks team at Stowe Family Law.

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Episode 67: Should there be protection for unmarried couples living together?

August 28, 2025 • Stowe talks • Season 7 • Episode 67

Matt and Liza discuss the problems around the lack of protection for unmarried couples living together. Cohabitation is the fastest growing family type and with this social change, there have been calls from family lawyers to review the law and help protect the financially vulnerable. But is this just inventing new laws for the sake of it? Can current marriage and divorce laws be adapted to better reflect society?

00:51 What are the problems with current cohabitation laws?

01:56 How property ownership works

04:47 Do unmarried couples have claims other than to property?

05:30 Why there are calls for cohabitation reform

07:39 Options for cohabitation reform

09:38 The importance of education around relationships and marriage

13:49 Role of prenuptial agreements

14:15 Social changes and the impact on marriage laws

16:25 How to educate people

17:50 Do the current laws reflect society?

18:45 The role of civil partnerships

19:25 Cohabitation laws providing a middle ground

20:29 Are cohabitation laws just renaming marriage?

21:32 Reforming marriage laws

22:10 The importance of protection for cohabitees

Living together before marriage: the legal reality https://www.stowefamilylaw.co.uk/stowe-support/living-together-before-marriage-the-legal-reality/

Legal Q&A: “My partner and I are buying a house together. How can I protect myself?” https://www.stowefamilylaw.co.uk/stowe-support/legal-qa-my-partner-and-i-are-buying-a-house-together-how-can-i-protect-myself/

Buying a house as an unmarried couple https://open.spotify.com/episode/6hAGmZJSUsKh8fxEa508xV?si=54025b36c4bd4859

TOLATA claims https://www.stowefamilylaw.co.uk/family-law/cohabitation-lawyers/tolata-claims/

What rights do cohabiting couples have? https://open.spotify.com/episode/1rzM1yDZkKeG9mfS6GZ02j?si=1cf8b74a2c5441ca

If you need support with the issues raised in this podcast, or would like to speak to a family lawyer, contact Stowe at: https://bit.ly/35WPSj2

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This podcast is brought to you by the Stowe talks team at Stowe Family Law - https://www.stowefamilylaw.co.uk/