Lawyer warns that thousands of cohabiting couples across north London could be at risk if their relationships break down

A north London family lawyer is urging unmarried couples to take action to protect themselves, as they could be vulnerable if their relationships break down.

Graeme Fraser, a Partner at Finchley-based OGR Stock Denton Solicitors, is making the call as part of a national Cohabitation Awareness Week, being led by Resolution from 27 November to 1 December 2017.

Resolution campaigns for a fairer family justice system and Graeme Fraser is the organisation’s national spokesperson for cohabitation.

Cohabitation Awareness Week aims to raise awareness about the lack of rights that exist for unmarried couples who live together.

There are around seven million people in the UK living in this type of relationship, the country’s fastest-growing type of family.

Graeme Fraser said: “The sad reality is that unmarried couples in north London have very limited legal rights and responsibilities towards each other if their relationship breaks down.

“I regularly meet people who have been affected in this way, and because of the lack of legal protection, there are times when I simply can’t help them.

“This is why I am urging all cohabiting couples in north London to consider taking out basic protections, such as a cohabitation agreement to protect both partners if they separate, or think about life insurance. By setting out your intention in these documents, they’ll be in a much better situation is the unexpected happens.”

He added that Resolution had made resources available, both to the public and to local advice providers, such as mortgage advisers, to help them spread the work to cohabiting couples they work with.

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