A cohabitation agreement records arrangement between people who have agreed to live together, as a couple or otherwise. It records each party’s rights and responsibilities in relation to the property where they live or intend to live together, financial arrangements between them, both during and following cohabitation and the arrangements to be made if they decide that they no longer want to live together. We encourage our clients to enter into cohabitation agreements, particularly where property is to be co-owned as the existence of a properly drafted agreement can avoid the cost of litigation about the parties’ respective beneficial interests in the home that they shared if the cohabitation ends.
A cohabitation agreement can also be used to record ownership of personal property (including items such as cars, furniture or art) which may be used or enjoyed by both cohabitees when they live together but are to be retained by the owner if cohabitation ends.