To not be able to believe that intelligent people think that common law marriage still exists?

[TimoteiChaletpants]

A group of educated/intelligent people advising an unmarried person that there was a certain amount of rights under common law that they would be entitled to if the had been together for an amount of time.
my understanding is only marriage provides a partner with any legal or financial rights

AIBU?

Blimey.

So no way to opt out? Or can richer people just not shack up with partners on this state?

@DaftyLass

As @burnoutbabe said - can you opt out?

Yes you can

You can opt out of being automatically common law in BC
Common law spouses can opt out by entering into a written Cohabitation Agreement that is properly signed and witnessed. A Cohabitation Agreement is like a prenuptial agreement or a marriage contract.Jun 13, 2023

Common law definitely there. It might be teamed up with cohabiting, but it’s still being used in terminology as if it’s something which exists.

Which site is that?

As someone mentioned, in many countries if partners live together for certain amount of time they have simmilar rights as if they were married.
In Croatia it is three years of living together or sooner if they have a child.

I don't know that level of detail, sadly. I think they both had money but the house was his. Both had children. Just a mess because of the absence of a will.

This:

“Common law marriage does exist in some other countries so perhaps people have heard something about it but don’t realise it doesn’t apply in the UK.”

your rights are not something you can afford to be complacent about