New legal protection rights have been granted to unmarried couples who choose to separate, The Telegraph reports.
A landmark case involving the sale of property prompted the change to unmarried couple's rights, divorce solicitors may be interested to learn.
Patricia Jones was appealing a previous ruling that entitled her ex-partner, Leonard Kernott, to half of the value of her £245,000 Essex home. Though bought in both of their names, the pair split twenty years ago and Ms Jones had been paying the mortgage alone for the past 13 years.
The Supreme Court ruled that Mr Kernott was entitled to just ten per cent of the value of the house, a decision, BBC News writes, that "could alter the legal landscape for unmarried couples arguing over property after separating."
Reaction from the legal profession appeared to be split, however. Some experts said the ruling meant that courts could decide how much partners were entitled to, when intentions had not been made clear, while others believed it brought unmarried couple's rights closer to those of married people.
What is clear, legal partner Kirstie Law, urged, is that: "All cohabiting couples should record their intentions with regard to jointly owned property."
The four-year case meant that the difference between rulings has cost Mr Kernott £90,000 but the final verdict reflects the financial contributions that both parties have made, among other factors.
Ministers have been urged to follow the ruling up and introduce legislation to prevent current confusion regarding the division of property.
