Cohabitation agreements are contracts for unmarried couples who live together. It’s a legal document put in place to protect your rights if the relationship breaks down at a later point.
While it sounds like a pessimistic view of the world, it’s a very common thing to do. It gives clarity to both partners about the ownership of the house, and in which proportions.
Why would you get a cohabitation agreement?
These are some of the reasons why couples choose to get a cohabitation agreement:
- Buying a house with a partner who you’re not married to
- You’re contributing different amounts to the purchase of your home
- You have children from a previous relationship who may need to live in the home on a full or part time basis
- You want to agree in advance who will pay for certain debts or bills
- You want to protect loans or gifts that your parents gave to you alone
It doesn’t matter how many of the above scenarios apply to you. If you’re living with a partner that you’re not married to, it’s a wise idea to seek advice from a family lawyer to protect your interests.
That’s because you don’t have the same legal rights to the home as you would if you were married or in a civil partnership. So if things break down, you could be left with no rights over a family home that is in your partner’s sole name.
