As the number of couples choosing to live together (and not to marry) is on the rise, it is essential that access to what their legal rights and obligations are is readily available.

The fourth edition of Barlow's Cohabitants and the Law provides a wealth of both new and updated information on important issues affecting cohabiting couples such as cohabitation agreements, disputes in relation to children, the family home and tax and social security. Part I focuses on the ongoing relationship and Part II with relationship breakdown.

There have been significant legislative, procedural and case law developments since the publication of the third edition in all of the key areas of family, child, land and trust law that impact on cohabiting couples in much the same way as married couples, eg:

- New child maintenance regulations (CMS)
- Family Procedure Rules 2010
- Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008
- Adoption and Children Act 2002
- Stack v Dowden [2007] UKHL 17, [2007] 2 ALL ER 929
- Jones v Kernott [2011] UKSC 53, [2012] 1 AC 776; and
- Bhurra v Bhurra [2014] EWHC 727, [2014] All ER (D) 213 (Mar)

Mention is also be made of EU jurisdiction distinctions/differences.

The practical stance of the work is enhanced by a precedents and checklist section, and the provision of a number of 'at a glance' comparative tables setting out the rights of cohabitants, married couples and civil partners in relation to property and housing, financial provision following breakdown of the relationship, child maintenance, death, pensions and more.

Part I: Living together
Chapter 1: The cohabitation relationship
Chapter 2: The status of children
Chapter 3: Housing
Chapter 4: Tax and social security
Chapter 5: Inheritance and succession
Chapter 6: Cohabitants and matrimonial proceedings

Part II: Relationship breakdown
Chapter 7: Domestic violence and the family home
Chapter 8: The status of children on relationship breakdown
Chapter 9: Financial provision for children
Chapter 10: The family home on relationship breakdown: rented property
Chapter 11: The home on relationship breakdown: owner occupied property and other arrangements
Chapter 12: Dispute resolution options

Precedents

“...a clear and easily accessible summary of rights and remedies for cohabitants living together and on their relationship breakdown...one of the best general guides around for all aspects of conhabitation law...” –  Graeme Fraser, Partner, OGR Stock Denton LLP and chair of Resolution's Cohabitation Committee, New Law Journal

“This 4th edition is a clearly written and invaluable resource for dealing with the issues and difficulties that face cohabitants.” –  Poonam Bhari, 4PB

“From ownership of property to inheritance tax and from registering the birth of children to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme this book covers it all. It is an indispensable up-to-date guide to the law of cohabitation.” –  Journal of Housing Law 2019

“immensely useful…plenty here for the property lawyer…impressiveness of its coverage…clarity of exposition, …sage advice… invaluable "checklists"…It is possible that careful attention to this book will reduce the number of reported cases involving cohabitants.” –  Conveyancer and Property Lawyer, 2019, Conveyancer and Property Lawyer, 2019

“For the private client practitioner, this book will be most useful as a means of identifying issues arising in a cohabitation context and as a way into the issues which arise. This is an interesting book with an important message about the need for a better legal framework for cohabitants.” –  Private Client Business, 2018, Private Client Business, 2018