Cohabitation Agreement
Protect yourself from possible problems later on by completing a cohabitation agreement. Too many times, unmarried couples neglect drafting a written agreement that governs their rights and obligations. Living like this may be fine right now, but what about if you break up?
When you decided to live together, each of you had certain expectations where it relates to finances, personal property, whether or not one would support the other at any given time, and other personal decisions of this nature. Your expectations could be already drastically different from your partner's. They tend to also change quite a bit when couples break up. So, image how many problems can rear their ugly heads if you and your partner don't form an agreement now on your expectations.
Another thing to think about is that in the state of California, and some other states, the courts enforce implied, oral, and written agreements between unmarried couples in determining how to handle disagreements that may arise when a break-up occurs. If there is no written agreement, the courts have to rely on the other two forms of agreement to settle any disagreements the couple may have regarding finances and personal property: implied and oral. As you know, your view of what is agreed can be a lot different than your partner's and these views could change even more if a break-up occurs. In order to keep the guesswork out of settling any possible disagreements that may happen down the road, it is best to have a written agreement because no matter how situations and points of view may change, written agreements stay the same.
Completing our Cohabitation Agreement form can help you protect yourself and protect your partner from losing personal property or ending up being financially responsible for more than you or your partner expects, like finding out that the courts determined that your partner communicated that it was "implied" that you would support him/her financially if your relationship ever broke up. This also protects both parties from changing points of views where it relates to the division of personal property and other matters of this nature should a break-up occur. Protect yourself and your partner, complete this form, print it, sign it and have your partner sign it. Then, keep it in a safe place. You'll be glad you did.
Click here for completed sample. Bolded items are examples of completed fields from this form.
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