While the number of cohabiting couples in the UK has more than doubled, the numbers of married and lone parent families have remained stable. Cohabiting couple family numbers more than doubled from 1.5 million families in 1996 to 3.3 million…
Can Your Spouse Spy On You with Amazon Alexa or Google Home?
Can Amazon Alexa or Google Home by used by a spouse to spy on their partner? Our clients are normally already aware of the risk that their use of social media and smartphones or tablets will allow their spouse or…
How to stop your spouse spying on you, your phone, social media or location.
Social Media Spying Risks: your social media accounts can be used to spy, stalk or monitor your activities, your movements and your communications with friends. Social media can also be misused to harass you or even impersonate you. 1. Consider…
How to Change Your Name after Divorce or Separation
Our clients will often wish to change their name following a separation or divorce. Normally, this will be to revert to a maiden name. Frequently, clients will ask for a “deed poll”. However, this will not always be necessary. 1.…
Unmarried Couples: The Myth of the “Common Law Marriage”
A Guest Blog by Martha Gray, barrister at 42 Bedford Row. Despite an increasing number of couples choosing to cohabit and have children without getting married the myth of “common law marriage” persists. In fact, although cohabitants do have some…
What happens to the engagement rings?
I have written before about a young man in 1916 who promised a young lady the earth (including an engagement ring) but failed to honour the word that she took as binding. Gladys took him to court for child maintenance…
Family lawyers, and the Milton Keynes grid system
I was contacted this week and asked to write about a specific problem which has arisen in the life of a reader’s family member, who has suffered a relationship breakdown, and is unmarried, not on the house deeds and is…
Do you cohabit and own a house? Have you thought about what your rights are? Best check..
Are you cohabiting? If so, you are amongst the 15% of both men and women in this country aged 16 to 59 who are currently cohabiting. Whilst some of these couples will not buy property, many of them will, and…