About UnmarriedCouple.com

Why this site exists

Many South Africans live together believing that time alone gives them rights, that after a few years they are “married by common law.” They are not. There is no common-law marriage in South Africa, and couples usually discover this at the worst possible moment: a breakup or a death. The information that would have protected them exists, but it is buried in legal jargon or locked behind a law firm's enquiry form.

We publish it clearly, for free, so that knowing your rights is the easy part.

How we work

• Every claim is sourced. We cite the actual Act, court judgment or government page so you can verify everything yourself. The references sit at the bottom of each guide.
• Plain English first. We explain what the law means for real couples, not how it reads in a textbook.
• We are not a law firm. We publish general legal information, not legal advice, and we do not take on clients. For your own situation, see a qualified attorney.
• Written and reviewed by our editorial team against primary sources. Our standards are set out in the editorial & sourcing policy.

How we stay independent

The site is free to read. We may earn a commission if you choose a service through some of our links, and we run advertising to keep the lights on. Neither ever changes what we write or which option we recommend. If a free template is the right answer, we say so.

Get in touch

Spotted something that needs correcting, or have a question we should cover? We want to hear it. Contact us here.