How can an unmarried couple legally protect themselves?

Unmarried couples can take the following legal steps to protect themselves and their interests:

Enter into a Cohabitation Agreement. A properly drafted agreement can outline the terms of the relationship, including financial arrangements and responsibilities, property ownership, and what will happen if the couple separates.

Create a Will to ensure your partner receives a portion of your estate following your death. It is important to remember that unmarried partners do not have any automatic inheritance rights.

For a jointly owned property, decide what should happen to the property when one partner dies. If it is intended that a surviving partner should automatically receive their deceased partner’s share of the property – the property should be registered as Joint Tenants.

If the intention is different, then the property should be registered as Tenants in Common.