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Wills & Probate
About Lyons Bowe
Driven by our Clients
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Head Office
Call us: 01749 345 756info@lyonsbowe.co.uk
Postal Address: 54 High Street, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5AS
More and more couples in England and Wales are choosing to live together without getting married. While cohabiting can feel the same as marriage in day-to-day life, the law treats unmarried couples very differently when it comes to property, finances, and children.
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At Lyons Bowe, our experienced family solicitors provide clear, compassionate advice to help unmarried couples understand their legal position and protect their future.
A widespread myth is that living together for a certain number of years creates a “common law marriage.” In reality, no such legal status exists in England and Wales. This means unmarried couples do not have the same automatic rights as married couples or civil partners.
Without the right legal arrangements in place, you may be left vulnerable if the relationship breaks down.
If you buy a home together, the way the property is registered (joint tenants or tenants in common) will determine your share if the relationship ends. If only one partner owns the property, the other may have limited rights without a clear agreement.
Unlike in divorce, there is no right to spousal maintenance for unmarried couples. Financial claims are limited to child support or property claims.
Parents who are not married still have the same responsibilities to their children. Issues such as custody, child arrangements, and financial support can be resolved with legal guidance if disputes arise.
A cohabitation agreement is a legally binding document that sets out each partner’s rights and responsibilities. It can cover property, finances, debts, and childcare arrangements, providing clarity and protection should the relationship end.
Our family law solicitors can help you with:
We aim to reduce conflict and provide solutions that protect your interests, your home, and your family.
With offices in Bath, Frome, Shepton Mallet, Keynsham, Bournemouth, Bridgwater, Exeter, Cheltenham, Cardiff, and Bristol, Lyons Bowe is here to provide local expertise backed by nationwide experience.
We pride ourselves on approachable, clear advice tailored to your circumstances — without unnecessary jargon or complexity.
If you’re living with your partner or considering moving in together, it’s important to understand your rights. Lyons Bowe’s dedicated family solicitors are here to guide you through every stage, from drafting agreements to resolving disputes.
📞 Call your local office:
📧 Email: info@lyonsbowe.co.uk
🌐 Visit: www.lyonsbowe.co.uk
Forget the confusing lingo and overly wordy explanations. Our app makes sense of it all. Seamless, convenient and designed with you in mind.
The team at Lyons Bowe have been great, replying promptly to any questions and always helpful. The progress updates throughout the process, has been very helpful and really keeps you informed as to where you are within the timeline.
The Mirror Guy, Firm Review
Excellent service. Quietly attentive, sympathetic listeners, and efficient practitioners, all that a worried applicant could wish for. And especially unusual in this day and age....
Brian, Firm Review
Honestly I've never wanted to review solicitors before, they've been ok and have done their job at varying timescales. From the start, my partner and I have commented every single time when something happened how quick they are, and they're a delight to communicate with too! And their app is brilliant and has made things so much easier. We will use in the future and will not stop recommending.
Chris, Firm Review
I recently used Lyons Bowe Solicitors and had the pleasure of working with Holly as my point of contact. From start to finish, the service was outstanding. Holly was professional, approachable, and incredibly efficient - she kept me updated throughout the entire process and made everything feel smooth and stress-free.
Manuel, Firm Review
Rhea, and everyone so far at Lyons Bowe, have been truly fantastic. Excellent communication, chasing me rather than me chasing them, very pleasant in conversation and always ready to help. Highly recommend to anyone.
Rich, Firm Review
Everything was done quickly and efficiently and the app means you are kept informed every step of the way. Thank you.
Nina, Firm Review
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At Lyons Bowe, we do not just give legal advice, we guide you through life’s biggest moments with clarity, care, and confidence. Whether you are buying a home, making a will, or navigating a separation, we make the process simple, structured, and built entirely around you.
Lyons Bowe is a trading name of Lyons Bowe Limited, a limited company registered in England & Wales (registered number OC11526226) which is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority No. 652616. A list of Directors is available at our registered office 54 High Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5AS
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