Money, homes and living together later in life

Why this matters more after 50

Later in life, two people usually bring more to a relationship than they did at 25: homes they own, pensions, savings, and children from earlier marriages who expect to inherit something one day. Getting the paperwork right protects both of you, and your families. It's also far easier to talk about while everything is lovely than after something has gone wrong.

This page sets out the facts, with sources. It isn't legal advice. Every couple's situation is different, so take the questions at the end to a solicitor before you move in, buy together or marry.

The common-law marriage myth

Many people believe that living together for a few years gives you the same rights as a married couple. It doesn't.

• England and Wales: GOV.UK says plainly that "common law marriages" do not exist. Unmarried partners don't have the same rights or legal status as married couples or civil partners, even if they've lived together for a long time or have children.
• Scotland: cohabitants have some limited rights. Citizens Advice Scotland explains that a former cohabitant can ask a court for a limited financial settlement, but must do so within one year of the relationship ending.
• Ireland: Citizens Information says there's no such thing as a common-law husband and wife in Irish legislation, but long-term cohabitants have some protections through the redress scheme (below).

The UK government consulted in 2026 on strengthening protections for cohabitants in England and Wales. The consultation closed on 14 August 2026 and, as of November 2026, the law hasn't changed. We'll update this page if it does.

If one of you dies

This is where the gap between married and unmarried couples is widest.

The fix for most couples is simple: make wills. In Ireland, Citizens Information notes there's a dwelling house exemption that can apply to inheriting a home you've lived in, with conditions.

Getting married changes your will

Marriage has a big effect on wills that many people don't know about.

• England and Wales: GOV.UK says getting married cancels any will you made before.
• Ireland: marrying or entering a civil partnership revokes your will, unless it was clearly made with that marriage in mind.

So if you've made a careful will leaving your home to your children, and then you remarry, that will may no longer stand. Make a new one, ideally with a solicitor, at the time you marry.

Moving in: the house

If one of you moves into a home the other owns, think about what happens if you split up or one of you dies. If you sell two homes to buy one together, think about how you'll own it and how you'll record who put in what.

In England and Wales, a home can be owned jointly in different ways, and the choice affects what happens to each share on death. If you each have children, this is worth getting right. A solicitor can explain the options and draw up a declaration of trust recording your shares.

In Scotland, Citizens Advice Scotland points out that if only one partner owns the home, the other generally has no right to stay if asked to leave, unless a court has given them rights.

Cohabitation agreements

A cohabitation agreement is a legal document for unmarried couples who live together. The Law Society describes it as setting out arrangements for finances, property and children while you live together, and if you split up, become ill or die. It suggests making one before you move in, and says costs can range from about £300 to £4,000 depending on your circumstances. A family law solicitor can make sure it's legally binding, and you should update it if things change.

In Ireland, Citizens Information explains that a cohabitation agreement lets you set out day-to-day arrangements and how you'd separate shared assets, and that you both need independent legal advice for it to be valid.

Ireland: the redress scheme

Ireland gives long-term cohabitants a safety net. If a relationship ends through separation or death, a financially dependent partner who is a qualified cohabitant can ask the court for orders similar to those available on divorce, such as property, maintenance or pension adjustment orders. To qualify, you must have lived together in an intimate and committed relationship for at least 5 years, or 2 years if you have a child together. You must usually apply within 2 years of the relationship ending.

Pensions and benefits

Before you move in or marry, check anything you receive that depends on being single, widowed or living alone.

• Ireland: the Bereaved Partner's Contributory Pension stops if you cohabit, marry or enter a new civil partnership.
• UK survivor's pensions: schemes set their own rules. Some public service schemes used to stop a survivor's pension on remarriage or cohabitation; the armed forces schemes changed theirs in 2015. Ask your scheme directly.
• Pension Credit (UK): if you have a partner, they must be included on your claim.
• Council Tax (UK): you get 25% off if you live on your own. That ends when someone moves in.

Questions to take to a solicitor

Write these down before your appointment:

1. If we live together without marrying, what happens to my home if we split up, or if I die?
2. Should we have a cohabitation agreement, or a pre-nuptial agreement if we marry?
3. How should we own any home we buy together, and how do we record what each of us put in?
4. What do our wills need to say to protect each other and our own children?
5. Will marrying or moving in affect any pension or benefit either of us gets?
6. Should we update lasting powers of attorney and pension nomination forms?

Keeping romance and money separate, at first

One last point, and it's about safety rather than law. Nobody you've met online should be asking about your savings, your house or your pension early on, and nobody genuine will ever ask you to send them money or "invest" for them. If they do, stop and read our guide to romance scams.

If you're recently divorced, our guide to dating after divorce over 50 covers finishing the financial side first. If you've been bereaved, dating after losing a partner covers pensions and family feelings, and telling your adult children helps with the conversation about inheritance.