Couples who live together but aren’t married may come into difficulty when the relationship ends as you do not have the same legal rights as couples who are married. The law is limited and will usually only be able to deal with issues surrounding property or children.

Property dispute claims - TOLATA

For unmarried couples who are separating and at least one of you owns a property, the court has certain powers to resolve disputes about the ownership of that property under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA).

A TOLATA claim can also be issued:

• to force the sale of land or property.
• to reoccupy a former family home when an ex-partner refuses to leave.
• by parents/grandparents wanting to recover their financial interest in the property.
• to determine the share you each own.

This can be a complex area of law but we can provide expert advice based on your individual circumstance and help you to try and negotiate a settlement with your ex-partner or throughout court proceedings if necessary.