Managing your finances and planning your life together is rarely as simple as pooling everything you earn and dividing up bills. Sorting out 'my' money from 'our' money is a common issue for couples. And then there is the matter of ensuring you receive all that you are entitled to, whether you are together or end up living apart.

Your financial situation as a couple will be different according to whether you are married, civil partnered or not. Whereas married or civil partnered couples have a legal duty to support each other, cohabiting couples do not - including after a split.

Further information:

		Banking
		Debts
		Taxes
		Benefits
		Pensions

Working out a budget can help you keep track of the money you have coming in and how much you spend. A budget calculator can be found on the Financial Services Authority website Moneymadeclear.

More information on benefits, taxes and managing your money can be found on the Directgov website.

	www.marriedornot.org.uk

The Nuffield Foundation and the Department for Constitutional Affairs supported One Plus One's development of material for married or not. The legal information on this site was checked by Sarah Forster, with assistance from Diane McBrinn.