When unmarried couples live together for a while, it's likely that they accumulate a good amount of property. Unlike married couples, the property rights for unmarried couples are not afforded the same legal protections. Since this the case, it's in each person's best interest to write out a property agreement that spells out who owns what and how the property will be distributed should the couple separate. This is especially important if a couple acquires real estate together. On the other hand, this agreement is probably not necessary for couples who have only lived together a short time and do not have much property.
Without an agreement, you could face expensive and time consuming legal battles, defending your property rights. This trouble can be saved by each party entering an agreement they both consent to, while the relationship is sound.
What a Cohabitation Property Agreement Should Include
A cohabitation property agreement is about you and your partner, and therefore, should include what meets the specific needs of your relationship. Most agreements include the following:
How to Cover Your House in a Cohabitation Property Agreement
Because buying a house together is such a huge financial responsibility and can carry with it strong emotional ties, including the purchase of your home in your cohabitation property agreement is particularly important. Resolving the property rights for unmarried couples ahead of time can remove unpleasant surprises down the road. Care should be taken to ensure that you do not cut yourself short of your property rights. This part of your contract should cover at least the following:
Support Payments
Many people use the term "palimony" to refer to support paid to an ex-partner when the couple was never married. Palimony is not a legal term and carries no legal significance. In fact, members of unmarried couples have no rights to support, unless the two have previously agreed on it. To avoid a tense disagreement about palimony, it's in the couple's best interest to include whether or not support will be paid in a written agreement. As an example of why this is important, the California Supreme Court has ruled that an ex-partner could sue for support if he or she could show that an implied contract existed between the two.
Importance of Including Income in a Cohabitation Property Agreement
Creating a cohabitation property agreement in the beginning, while the relationship is still sound can avoid a lot of tension, disagreement, and hassle should the couple break up. Property that is owned separately could be changed by the circumstances or by one of the partners claiming that there was an agreement to something, when there really was not. This becomes even more important when one of the partners makes significantly more money and supports the other partner who has little or no income.
Example: Pat and Sam are unmarried partners who decide to move in together. Pat is a successful surgeon, and Sam is unemployed. They use Pat's income to purchase a home that Sam will fix up. To protect their individual property rights, just in case they break up, they decide to enter into a written cohabitation property agreement. In the agreement, they decide that after Sam completes the home improvements according to the couple's plans, they will become joint tenants with the right of survivorship. They also agree that all furniture and fixtures that they place in the home will be owned and divided equally, should they break up. Their agreement explains that if the couple breaks up, that Sam would remain in the house to care for their child, but that Sam will compensate Pat for Pat's portion within 5 years. Aside from this house payment, no support or other payments will be exchanged between the couple.
Liability for Debts
Unmarried partners are not responsible for each other's debt unless they have a joint account or one is a cosigner or guarantor for the other. This is different from married partners who can be held liable for marital debts. In some states, registered domestic partners are responsible for all debts acquired for basic living expenses, like food, shelter, and clothing.
Property Rights For Unmarried Couples: Surviving Partners
A surviving cohabiting partner has no property rights to the deceased partner's individual property - unless a partner leaves property to the surviving spouse by will or trust. Now if the couple owns real estate as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, then the surviving partner will inherit the deceased partner's half. But as you can see, these are very specific examples.
Some states that recognize domestic partnerships do have rights to inherit a portion of the deceased partner's property. However, the best way to provide for the surviving partner is by leaving a will or living trust.
Getting Legal Help Protecting Your Property Rights
Property agreements are very important and useful tools for protecting the property rights for unmarried couples. It's important to design the agreement according to a couple's specific situation, so it's a good idea to consult with an experienced family law attorney to discuss your situation.
