Living Together

Unmarried couples who live together have some special legal issues to consider, like whether and how they want to share money and property, and how to make sure they're able to take care of each other in the event of an emergency. Find out how to protect your relationship and learn about common law marriage, property rights, and living together contracts.

Here's are stats on unmarried couples living together and an overview of the legal issues that affect them.

Domestic partnership is offered as an alternative to marriage in only a few states. Learn where you can enter into a domestic partnership, as well as why it might be the right arrangement for you and your significant other.

Judges will consider many different aspects of your relationship when deciding whether you have a common law marriage. Learn how these informal marriages work, where and when they're legal, and how to prove or disprove that you're in a common law marriage.

Learn how gay couples in valid common law marriages may be eligible for Social Security benefits based on their partners’ earnings.

Learn what cohabitation agreements are, who needs one, the legal requirements for an enforceable cohabitation contract, and what it should include.

Here's why living together agreements are especially important for the growing number of unmarried older couples who live together.

Here's an overview of common parentage issues that arise when parents are not married, including how to legally establish paternity, how to name your child, and what to do if the father didn't sign the birth certificate papers.

Here's a summary of the various ways states have addressed legal standards of proof of paternity.

All states allow married couples to adopt jointly. But what happens when an unmarried couple wants to adopt a child?

Here's a summary of the rights of children of unmarried parents to inherit money and receive benefits available to children of married parents.

Here's how living with an unmarried partner affects child custody decisions.

No matter what their marital status—divorced, separated, or never married—parents have an obligation to support their kids. But does a parent’s living arrangement affect child support? That depends.

Whether you agreed to alimony with your ex-partner or the court decided for you, your actions may impact future payments.

It's becoming more common for couples to live together without taking the plunge into marriage. But what happens if you want to raise children together? Before you decide to adopt or raise children, have you considered how your marital status will affect your rights?

How to deal with custody, support, and other parenting issues when you and your unmarried partner end your relationship.

If you want to end your common law marriage, the process may be more complicated than you think.

Am I legally entitled to any housing compensation or money for the loan, even though there was no written contract for either one?

Learn about the process and impact of sharing a last name with your partner.

Here's an overview of an unmarried couple's rights and responsibilities when it comes to debt and credit.

The number of unmarried partners cohabiting has increased over the years. While living with your partner may seem like a great way to reduce expenses, have you considered the possible tax ramifications? Continue reading to learn more.

Here's how to use your retirement plan to provide for your unmarried partner.

Here's an overview of the legal rules that affect property and other rights of unmarried couples who end their relationship.

Here's an overview of different ways unmarried couples can hold title to a house and the pros and cons of each.

What to do about a house you co-own when you split up.

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