PROMOTION Are we lovers or business partners? Lawyer David Coberm, Director of The Family Law Company discusses the reality for unmarried couples when it comes to business and property ownership It is difficult to be objective when and equestrian business a conversation in a Devon pub be business partners if this is what they intended? All the more so when one considers the benefits it comes to affairs of the heart. This is the dilemma at the core was considered so central to the of financial disputes between unmarried couples, particularly claim that (unsuccessful) efforts were made to find the bar bill in bank statements. of both partners drawing from the business using their combined personal tax allowances. when the couple embark on a renovation project or business venture together. Take beginning a new life in the "You will be provided for on countryside in a property needing my death". "This will benefit us creative investment and a Certain quotes tend to recur in these cases: "This is your home", A distinction is also drawn concerning a property where a couple live and a business they run from it. A non-owner of the both". These have all featured in home will find it hard to claim a business on site to pay for it. There have been several high-profile cases between former couples who embarked on such projects. only to find themselves before the interpretation: "This is your evidence given by unsuccessful non-owning claimants where the case has been finely balanced. But they're open to share in the property based on income from a joint business. It's quite normal for business partners to work hard in the business for mutual benefit courts disputing ownership and shares in the home and business. home" is not the same as "We Unmarried couples don't have the same legal remedies as their married counterparts on relationship breakdown. Instead, own this home" "You will be provided for on my death" could be followed by the caveat ".if without implying they intend to jointly own the home they live in or from which the business is run. On the other hand, where the owner gives the non-owner we are still together"t "Ihis will benefit us both" might refer to the efforts of both to promote a assurances which encourages them to spend large sums or make significant effort in the belief that they'll have a share, the court will readily grant a share to the shared business venture rather "Where there is a than inferring an interest in the property from which it's run. Someone moving into a property deserving claimant. owned by their new partner or helping in a business run by them has great difficulty claiming a share if the position remains unchanged, because the court will assume they knew the established legal position. That's not to say that business element to the relationship, the courts are harder on a claimant who isn't a partner or shareholder." Outcomes in cases of this kind are very fact sensitive. A decision can turn on a single piece of evidence or the performance of a witness in court. My advice to unmarried couples faced with this situation is to talk it through. Make sure you understand what motivates your partner and review it regularly. If you don't like what you hear maybe it is time to dispel any misunderstandings. David Cobern is a director claims of this kind don't succeed, they must rely on the law relating to business, property and trust simply that evidence of an agreement and contribution has to be compelling. law to establish a claim. Property claims often centre on romantic conversations over Where there is a business element to the relationship, the courts are harder on a claimant candlelit meals. Invariably, one party ascribes greater significance to these discussions than the other. In a recent case of the Family Law Company who isn't a partner or shareholder, specialising in dispute resolution between unmarried couples and Is the author of a book on the rights of unmarried couples. even if they've put in long hours for what they consider to be a joint venture. Why wouldn't the couple concerning a Devon property Balliol House, Southemhay Gardens, Exeter EX1 1NP Lower Ground Floor, Princess Court, Plymouth PL1 2EX 01392 421777 01752 674990 www.thefamilylawco.co.uk PROMOTION Are we lovers or business partners? Lawyer David Coberm, Director of The Family Law Company discusses the reality for unmarried couples when it comes to business and property ownership It is difficult to be objective when and equestrian business a conversation in a Devon pub be business partners if this is what they intended? All the more so when one considers the benefits it comes to affairs of the heart. This is the dilemma at the core was considered so central to the of financial disputes between unmarried couples, particularly claim that (unsuccessful) efforts were made to find the bar bill in bank statements. of both partners drawing from the business using their combined personal tax allowances. when the couple embark on a renovation project or business venture together. Take beginning a new life in the "You will be provided for on countryside in a property needing my death". "This will benefit us creative investment and a Certain quotes tend to recur in these cases: "This is your home", A distinction is also drawn concerning a property where a couple live and a business they run from it. A non-owner of the both". These have all featured in home will find it hard to claim a business on site to pay for it. There have been several high-profile cases between former couples who embarked on such projects. only to find themselves before the interpretation: "This is your evidence given by unsuccessful non-owning claimants where the case has been finely balanced. But they're open to share in the property based on income from a joint business. It's quite normal for business partners to work hard in the business for mutual benefit courts disputing ownership and shares in the home and business. home" is not the same as "We Unmarried couples don't have the same legal remedies as their married counterparts on relationship breakdown. Instead, own this home" "You will be provided for on my death" could be followed by the caveat ".if without implying they intend to jointly own the home they live in or from which the business is run. On the other hand, where the owner gives the non-owner we are still together"t "Ihis will benefit us both" might refer to the efforts of both to promote a assurances which encourages them to spend large sums or make significant effort in the belief that they'll have a share, the court will readily grant a share to the shared business venture rather "Where there is a than inferring an interest in the property from which it's run. Someone moving into a property deserving claimant. owned by their new partner or helping in a business run by them has great difficulty claiming a share if the position remains unchanged, because the court will assume they knew the established legal position. That's not to say that business element to the relationship, the courts are harder on a claimant who isn't a partner or shareholder." Outcomes in cases of this kind are very fact sensitive. A decision can turn on a single piece of evidence or the performance of a witness in court. My advice to unmarried couples faced with this situation is to talk it through. Make sure you understand what motivates your partner and review it regularly. If you don't like what you hear maybe it is time to dispel any misunderstandings. David Cobern is a director claims of this kind don't succeed, they must rely on the law relating to business, property and trust simply that evidence of an agreement and contribution has to be compelling. law to establish a claim. Property claims often centre on romantic conversations over Where there is a business element to the relationship, the courts are harder on a claimant candlelit meals. Invariably, one party ascribes greater significance to these discussions than the other. In a recent case of the Family Law Company who isn't a partner or shareholder, specialising in dispute resolution between unmarried couples and Is the author of a book on the rights of unmarried couples. even if they've put in long hours for what they consider to be a joint venture. Why wouldn't the couple concerning a Devon property Balliol House, Southemhay Gardens, Exeter EX1 1NP Lower Ground Floor, Princess Court, Plymouth PL1 2EX 01392 421777 01752 674990 www.thefamilylawco.co.uk