The recent decision of the UK House of Lords in Stack v Dowden has been heralded as a landmark ruling which establishes that, where a cohabiting couple own a property jointly, there is a presumption that they also own it in equal shares. The starting point in a case of joint legal ownership is joint beneficial ownership, and the evidential burden rests upon the person seeking to show that the parties intended their beneficial interests to be different from their legal interests. This special bulletin examines the general equitable principles which apply to co-ownership of property by unmarried parties, and then considers in detail the House of Lords ruling itself. This is followed by an analysis of the conveyancing matters which arise for consideration in such cases. The advice which is given to prospective purchasers of joint property can be critical. Many of the problems which may emerge later if the couple separates or otherwise disagrees about beneficial entitlements can be avo