Law of Property Act 1925: Primary legislation governing property rights and ownership in England and Wales, fundamental for establishing property arrangements between cohabitees
Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996: Known as TOLATA, this act governs disputes about property ownership between unmarried couples and provides the framework for resolving property disputes
Family Law Act 1996: Part IV specifically deals with occupation rights in the family home, relevant for establishing living arrangements in cohabitation agreements
Civil Partnership Act 2004: Important for understanding the distinction between cohabitation rights and those of civil partners, helping define the scope of the agreement
Stack v Dowden [2007]: Landmark case law establishing principles for determining beneficial interests in property between unmarried couples
Jones v Kernott [2011]: Key case law providing guidance on quantifying beneficial interests in property between cohabitees
Children Act 1989: Essential legislation for including provisions relating to children in cohabitation agreements
Child Support Act 1991: Governs financial support for children, relevant when including child-related provisions in cohabitation agreements
Inheritance Act 1975: Relevant for understanding potential future claims and including provisions for inheritance rights in the agreement
Human Rights Act 1998: Ensures the agreement complies with human rights legislation, particularly regarding privacy and family life
Contract Law Principles: Basic principles of contract law that govern the enforceability of cohabitation agreements as standard contracts
Cohabitation Rights Bill: Proposed legislation (not yet law) that should be considered for awareness of potential future reforms in cohabitation rights
