What is a Section 278 Agreement?

A Section 278 Agreement is a legal agreement between a developer and a highway authority to carry out highway works.

Cohabitation Reform – A Step Towards Change

The Government has announced a consultation on improving legal protections for cohabiting couples, a move welcomed by Resolution as a long-overdue step towards fairness for modern families (read more on the Resolution website).

Cohabiting couples are the fastest-growing family type, yet the law currently offers very limited protection if a relationship ends or a partner dies. Many people wrongly believe in “common law marriage”, but this simply does not exist under English law.

The proposed reforms may improve financial protection on separation and give better rights to bereaved partners. However, the law has not changed yet, and any reforms are likely to take time.

What should couples do now?

Until the law changes, cohabiting couples should take steps to protect themselves, including:

putting a cohabitation agreement in place
recording ownership intentions through a declaration of trust
making wills

How Wollens can help

At Wollens, we advise couples across Devon on protecting their position when living together, and on resolving issues if relationships break down. Taking advice early can help avoid uncertainty and costly disputes later.