Unmarried couples who try to exert property rights on separation ‘are caught in a cross-current of law and equitable principles; and, in relation to children law, of judicial discretion. Between these is needless procedural complexity,’ says family law solicitor David Burrows. Writing in NLJ this week, Burrows looks at property proceedings where a partner wants to claim a differential share in jointly owned property or a share in property owned solely by one partner, and the couple have dependent children.