Being Pennywise

No Such Thing As A Common Law Marriage

May 23, 2023 Alison Porter Season 1 Episode 3
No Such Thing As A Common Law Marriage
Being Pennywise
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Being Pennywise
No Such Thing As A Common Law Marriage
May 23, 2023 Season 1 Episode 3
Alison Porter

Mark Hands, a top family lawyer with law firm Irwin Mitchell, is much in demand in divorce cases and is known for his work with former high-earning football players and their partners; he certainly has the inside story on some of the unfair situations that arise when couples separate. 

In conversation with Pennywise Consultants' Alison Porter, Mark highlights the staggering rise in this country of cohabiting couples (126% since 1996). He points out that many labour under the misapprehension that their relationship can be defined as a common-law marriage. The truth is that there is no such thing as a common-law marriage and, the end result in a separation can be phenomenally unfair to one or either side. 

Listen for plenty more from Mark on the importance of independent experts and how financial decisions are made especially for high earners when there is a catastrophic fall in income. You can contact Mark at mark.hands@irwinmitchell.com or through the firm's  website. 


Alison is the driving force behind Pennywise Consultants, the financial lifestyle analysis experts. In 2010, Alison saw a gap in the market for a new service to help lawyers to build cases and provide outstanding pastoral care to their clients. Since then, Pennywise has specialised in creating and challenging lifestyle and household budgets to support mediation and legal proceedings, equipping lawyers, professional advisers and private clients with the evidence they need to achieve the fairest outcomes.

You can reach Alison and her team at support@pennywiseconsultants.co.uk or call them on 01531 640988.

For more information about how Pennywise Consultants can help you, head over to their website at www.pennywiseconsultants.co.uk.

Follow Pennywise Consultants on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter for regular updates from Alison and her team.

Show Notes

Mark Hands, a top family lawyer with law firm Irwin Mitchell, is much in demand in divorce cases and is known for his work with former high-earning football players and their partners; he certainly has the inside story on some of the unfair situations that arise when couples separate. 

In conversation with Pennywise Consultants' Alison Porter, Mark highlights the staggering rise in this country of cohabiting couples (126% since 1996). He points out that many labour under the misapprehension that their relationship can be defined as a common-law marriage. The truth is that there is no such thing as a common-law marriage and, the end result in a separation can be phenomenally unfair to one or either side. 

Listen for plenty more from Mark on the importance of independent experts and how financial decisions are made especially for high earners when there is a catastrophic fall in income. You can contact Mark at mark.hands@irwinmitchell.com or through the firm's  website. 


Alison is the driving force behind Pennywise Consultants, the financial lifestyle analysis experts. In 2010, Alison saw a gap in the market for a new service to help lawyers to build cases and provide outstanding pastoral care to their clients. Since then, Pennywise has specialised in creating and challenging lifestyle and household budgets to support mediation and legal proceedings, equipping lawyers, professional advisers and private clients with the evidence they need to achieve the fairest outcomes.

You can reach Alison and her team at support@pennywiseconsultants.co.uk or call them on 01531 640988.

For more information about how Pennywise Consultants can help you, head over to their website at www.pennywiseconsultants.co.uk.

Follow Pennywise Consultants on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter for regular updates from Alison and her team.