Andi was informed of her partner's departure later in the evening.

The result is frequently a situation where people who cooperate in this way find themselves alone, due to their partner's departure or death, for example, and without any means of support or any entitlement to social benefits or a pension.

All these matters can and should be tackled in the partnership agreement in a way that, whilst not excluding sufficient flexibility to make the particular arrangements fit the precise circumstances of a partner's departure, at any rate eliminates doubt as to the broad basis from which negotiations should start.