Cohabitants currently in England do not have the same degree of protection given to married couples or registered civil partners. The law in England is currently under review. No rights attach to being a common law spouse. For further information, visit our section under splitting up.
If you have cohabited abroad in a relationships which confers certain rights and responsibilities in that country, the English courts will not recognise such a relationship. You should take advice from a lawyer in the country where you cohabited enquiring whether it might be possible for an order obtained in that jurisdiction to be enforced in England.