Cohabitation Agreements

A cohabitation agreement is a legal document designed for unmarried couples who live together (cohabitants). It outlines the rights and responsibilities of each partner during the relationship and addresses what should happen if the relationship ends or if one partner passes away. Cohabitation agreements can cover various aspects of the couple's lives together, including finances, property, and any children they may have.

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Some key elements that may be included in a cohabitation agreement are:

• Property Ownership and Division: The agreement may specify how property acquired during the relationship should be owned and how it will be divided if the relationship ends. This is particularly important for jointly owned property.

• Financial Responsibilities: It may outline each partner's financial contributions to the household and any arrangements for sharing expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, bills, and other living costs.

• Debts: The agreement may address how debts incurred during the relationship will be divided if the relationship ends.

• Childcare and Parental Responsibilities: If the couple has children together, the agreement may cover arrangements for custody, visitation, child support, and other parental responsibilities.

• Asset Protection: It may include provisions to protect assets owned by one partner before the relationship began.

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Separation of non-married families, including dealing with jointly owned property, can be complex as there may not be the same legal protections in place as there are for married couples. If a non-married couple decides to separate, they will need to navigate issues such as property division, child custody, and financial support without the legal framework provided by divorce laws.

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When it comes to jointly owned property, the couple may need to determine how to divide it fairly, taking into account factors such as contributions to the purchase price, mortgage payments, and any agreements made in the cohabitation