The relationship property conversation
The bottom line
After three years together the family home is shared equally by default. A contracting-out agreement is how you change that.
Nobody buys a home planning to separate, which is why this conversation gets skipped. The law does not skip it. Once a relationship reaches three years, the family home is generally divided equally, whoever paid the deposit and whoever is on the title.
If one of you is contributing much more, or you are moving into a home your partner already owns, a contracting-out agreement signed with independent advice on both sides is the only way to agree something different.
Read this
Relationship property: I am too scared to talk to my partner about it
Do this
Decide whether you need a contracting-out agreement and raise it with us
Check yourself
After how long is the family home usually shared equally?
Three years.
Does keeping the house in one name protect it after three years?
No.
What does a contracting-out agreement need to be enforceable?
Independent legal advice for each partner.
Talk it through
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