In a recent interview with the Australian Financial Review, Gillian Coote discusses why some separated or divorced couples continue living under the same roof - and the risks to be aware of in such arrangements.

Gillian Coote, founder of Coote Family Lawyers, says it is not uncommon for separated or divorced couples to continue to live together.

In her work, Gillian has come across people who continue to cohabitate in the same house for years, in some cases even after one or both have found new partners.

“No one can afford to split costs between two houses these days,” she says.

Although, Gillian warns that continuing to live together can blur the lines of the status of the relationship. “When it drags on too long, couples don’t seem to know whether they are separated or not.”

Plus, getting a divorce if you are still living together may not always be smooth sailing.

“Until you’ve been through a formal property settlement and the court has made its divorce orders, if you’re still living under the same roof, and you’re still sharing finances, it’s very difficult to prove that you’ve been separated for a period to the courts. There needs to be some evidence of separation,” Gillian says.

Making sure you can prove when the separation started is important, particularly if one party doesn’t want the relationship to be over. This could involve separating finances, changing your will, updating your superannuation beneficiary and demonstrating a clear intent to end the relationship.

You can read the full article that was published in the Australian Financial Review here.

If you need advice on your situation, contact our team of top family lawyers in Melbourne on 03 9804 0035

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