Find Articles by Topic:

Nolo Logo

Since 1971, Nolo's goal has been simple: Make America's legal system accessible to everyone. Our website, books, software, online legal forms and lawyer directory help millions of individuals, businesses and nonprofits solve their legal problems each year.

Small text sizeMedium text sizeLarge text size Print this page
 

Property Rights of Unmarried Couples FAQ

From property agreements to palimony -- property right information for unmarried couples.

Questions

Answer

When is it important for an unmarried couple to make a written property agreement?

If you haven't been together long and don't own much, it's really not necessary to make a written agreement. But the longer you live together, the more important it is to prepare a written contract making it clear who owns what -- especially if you begin to accumulate a lot of property. And, if you buy a house together, it's a good idea to create a property agreement.

If you don't create a property agreement, you might face a serious (and potentially expensive) battle if you split up and can't agree on how to divide what you've acquired. And, when things are good, taking the time to draft a well-thought-out contract helps you clarify your intentions.

Nolo posts updates to the latest versions of books and software when major legal or practical changes occur. To see if your product has had a recent update, search for that book or software and visit its product page.

Related Products

All Lesbian & Gay Couples products >

Find A Lawyer

Enter zip or city, state ("Boston, MA")

Advertise Here

Attorney Profiles

Attorneys: Get Listed

Advertisement

Advertise Here
Ask a Family Lawyer Online