Couples

If you do not get legally married, the law will almost never treat you as if you were, no matter how long you live with someone. If it is a choice between marrying someone or living with them longterm, then marriage wins when it comes to financial security, especially for women. It may be the twentyfirst century, but it is still women who earn less, stay at home more and generally look after any children.

They are usually financially weaker when a relationship ends. If you are married, both partners normally have a right to a share of the marital home and its contents, whether they have contributed financially or not. A spouse who has been left, especially with children, may get it all. An ex-spouse may be entitled to personal maintenance, quite apart from any other maintenance paid for the children, plus the right to a share of the other's pension fund. An unmarried partner has no such rights.

Widows and widowers also get more financial protection from the law than live-in partners. If you die without a will, your widow or widower will automatically inherit - a lover will not, and a spouse has the right to challenge a will if they or any children are not provided for. And, married or not, there exists a strange concept in law called "joint and several liability", whereby, as far as debt is concerned, what's hers is his and what.s his is hers. In other words, you both owe all the money.

Suppose you buy a TV and DVD player costing £1,000. You take out a loan over two years. Then, love being love, one of you decides to move out and stops paying the bills, but takes the TV and DVD. Who has to pay the debt? The finance company can sue either of you, no matter who actually has possession of the property. And if you are the one left behind, you are easier to find. One way out is to choose who buys what. Take it in turns so you know exactly who owns what.