Cohabiting couples

If your relationship ends, your rights can depend on whether you and your partner are married or not. Find out more.

Couples living together have some rights and obligations, but they do not have the same rights and obligations as married couples or civil partnerships

What are the rights, entitlements and obligations of same-sex couples.

This page explains the property rights of cohabiting couples, for example, in relation to buying a home together, making a cohabitation agreement, applying for local authority housing, and getting legal advice.

Cohabiting couples have no automatic right to inheritance on the death of either partner. What are your rights, and find out how you can plan and make provisions for dependants.

Your civil status in Ireland may make some differences to your life insurance or pension entitlements. Find out about these differences, unclaimed life insurance policies and contacts for more information.

Law regarding guardianship of children of non-marital relationships.

When the parents of a child separate and they cannot agree on who should have custody of the child, the court will decide. Find out about the law regarding the custody of children of non-marital relationships.

How the courts decide arrangements for access to children for separating unmarried parents.

What is the redress scheme for cohabitants and who qualifies?

Find out about how cohabiting couples are taxed.