Coram Chambers is proud to announce that Mike Horton KC has contributed to the forthcoming Cohabitation Law and Practice Handbook, set to be published on 7 July 2025 and available via Resolution. This essential resource promises to be an authoritative yet practical guide designed specifically for family justice professionals navigating the complexities of cohabitation law.
Edited by Graeme Fraser, chair of Resolution’s cohabitation committee, this edition has been thoroughly revised and expanded to provide comprehensive support for practitioners advising unmarried couples on intricate property and trust law principles. With a focus on practical guidance, the handbook leads professionals through every stage of the process, from initial instruction to the final hearing of a TOLATA claim.
Significantly, this updated edition includes critical analyses of recent court decisions like Hudson v Hathaway and Guest v Guest, as well as new chapters addressing tax issues for cohabiting couples and the challenges faced by those in rented accommodation. Additionally, it offers insights into non-legally binding marriages, following landmark cases such as Akhter v Khan and Tousi v Gaydukova.
The contents cover a range of topics, expertly penned by a team of specialists in the field, including contributions on trust principles by Elissa Da Costa-Waldman, pre-action conduct by Mike Horton KC, and further procedural matters explored by Guy Holland. The handbook also contains practical commentary on the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR), supplemented by illustrative case studies that clarify complex legal concepts.
The full list of contributions
- Introduction Graeme Fraser
- Trust principles Elissa Da Costa-Waldman MCIArb
- First meeting Samara Brackley
- Pre-action conduct Mike Horton KC
- The conduct of proceedings Elizabeth Darlington
- Further procedural matters Guy Holland
- Possible related proceedings Andrzej Bojarski KC and Simon Sugar MCIArb
- Possible satellite issues Christopher Stirling
- Avoiding TOLATA and cohabitation disputes Jonathan Nosworthy
- Case studies Christopher Stirling
- Tax issues for family lawyers Rebecca Fisher and James Cook
- Cohabiting couple in rented accommodation Giles Peaker
- Non-legally binding marriages Dr Naheed Ghauri
- Appendices include an analysis of the practical use of Schedule 1 (Joshua Viney) and a guide to preparing Schedule 1 orders (James Pirrie); precedents and worked examples
For those interested in acquiring this invaluable resource, the Cohabitation Law and Practice Handbook is available for order in three formats: print, PDF, and a Print + PDF bundle. Pre-orders will be dispatched from 7 July, ensuring that family law practitioners have access to this comprehensive guide as soon as it is released.
With the growing number of cohabiting couples in the UK, the need for clear, practical legal guidance has never been more pressing. Mike Horton KC, as part of this expert team, is committed to supporting family justice professionals in navigating the evolving landscape of cohabitation law.
