What Constitutes Cohabitation?
Posted on Oct 18, 2011 8:00am PDT
A number of factors are considered when trying to determine whether or
not a relationship qualifies as cohabitation. In general, a couple that
cohabitates should live and act in much the same way that a married couple
does. They might share a mailing address, a last name, and even use terms
like husband or wife when referring to one another.
When determining whether a couple cohabitates, courts will consider how
long the couple has lived together. They will also look at factors such
as whether the individual income or assets of each partner have been combined
to support the other partner. In many cases, couples that cohabitate have
a financial situation that is quite interdependent.
In some cases, people who cohabitate might purchase real estate, cars,
boats, or other significant personal property together. They might also
jointly sign an apartment lease. Other factors that courts will consider
include whether or not the couple has any agreements regarding shared
property or financial support. Courts will also consider any support given
by the couple to their children, if the couple has any.
If you are cohabitating, you may want to consider drafting a
cohabitation agreement to protect your assets. To learn more about this type of legal contract,
contact Hutchinson Law now to enlist the advice of a
Jacksonville family law attorney.