Landmark ruling for unmarried couple

UK couples who co-habit but are not married have been advised to draw up legal agreements in the event of a separation after a major ruling by the House of Lords.

A warning was issued to unmarried couples who have purchased property together to sign "declarations of trust" after a five Lords ruled that a couple who had lived together for over 20 years would not have to split their home equally.

In the case involving Barry Stack and Dehra Dowden, the Lords concluded that Ms Dowden deserved a larger share of the property because more of her money was used to purchase it than her partner's.

In yesterday's judgement, Baroness Hale urged unmarried couples - making their shares in the property clear - in order to avoid expensive legal wrangles.

She said: "In family disputes, strong feelings are aroused when couples split up.These often lead the parties, honestly but mistakenly, to reinterpret the past in self-exculpatory or vengeful terms.

"They also lead people to spend far more on the legal battle than is warranted by the sums actually at stake."

Mr Stack, 51, was granted a 35 per cent share of the £750,000 home he had shared with Ms Dowden and their four children.