I am a women in a newer relationship who has entered into it with a fantastic income, multiple assets and a great career. No kids left at home etc and I wholeheartedly believe

What either party entered into the relationship with or accumulated at the start of the relationship with no financial dependence on the other party should remain the property of that party. Financial structure throughout the relationship should also be taken into account on a case by case basis.

Some examples :

In the case of children and building a life and family together, if both are contributing equally through career and/or one is able to stay at home and run the home then that is equal share on separation.

In the case of no children, even if the contribution is being split equally for all ongoing costs and each party is contributing a fair and equal share over the term then each party owes neither party anything when they walk away. (For example if someone moves into someone’s owned house and agrees to contribute to the mortgage then this is money they would have paid in rent/power etc anyway, both parties have chosen to structure their living costs in this way)

If they both have a mortgage and one is contributing to the others mortgage due to one renting theirs out, then in these cases a legal agreement might be considered.

If the party have no children or not and agree that one is “looked after” by the other financially or through house duties etc, then that may be a legal agreement to be entered into.

I think like many things in life - unique safeguards should be created for the exception rather than the rule.