The summer months, particularly July and August, are often synonymous with the sounds of church bells ringing out and seeing confetti scattered on the ground outside town halls.

It is a bit of a different story for this year.

A number of couples are still choosing to marry or enter into a civil partnership, although changing their original plans to comply with the current rules. Many are choosing to postpone until next year in order to have the event they had been planning for.

By entering into marriage or a civil partnership creates a legal contract. Not only is it a happy event, it is also a legal recognition of your spouse or civil partner.

Laura Ablett is an experienced Wills and Probate Solicitor and Partner at local solicitors Thatcher + Hallam LLP.

'As far as the law is concerned, parties who are married or in civil partnerships are treated very differently from those cohabiting,' says Laura. 'Contrary to common belief, there is no such thing as being a 'common law' wife or husband.'

Unmarried cohabiting couples do not share the same rights as married couples or those in a civil partnership. For example, the Intestacy Rules do not provide for cohabiting partners, which means you may not inherit the house and other assets if your partner dies without a Will.

'My advice to those postponing their weddings and civil partnerships would be to make a Will, in order to protect each other in the event of the death of the other.

Within that Will, I would include a contemplation of marriage/civil partnership clause in order that the Will can continue to be valid once the marriage or civil partnership has taken place.

Wills are incredibly important documents and they can even provide for legal guardians of any minor children you have, which Intestacy Rules do not provide guidance on. Wills are there to provide clarity should the worst happen.'

If you wish to find out more about how to make a Will, please contact Laura or any of her colleagues for an informal free initial chat on how you can still best protect your current legal position. Contact can be made by calling our office on 01761 414646 or our website here: the Thatcher + Hallam website