Seattle Family & Marital Law Attorneys

Lawyers Assisting Washington Clients with Cohabitation Agreements

Married people are not the only ones who require agreements and contracts regarding finances, property and other assets.  In today’s world, many couples will reside together for many years before they ever actually get married, and in some cases they may never get married at all.  There are many reasons why a Seattle couple may choose not to get married, but luckily there are laws in place that protect their rights and extend them some of the same legal benefits of a marriage. 

Many Seattle residents are shocked to find out that if they are living with an intimate partner without a cohabitation agreement, if one person dies, or if the relationship ends, the couple will be treated as legal strangers.  A cohabitation agreement is a private contract between cohabitants, which typically establishes a contract between the parties including much of the same rights and obligations that married people obtain.  A cohabitation agreement will ensure each individuals rights in the event of a death or breakup and will be very beneficial to all involved parties if the unexpected occurs. 

When two people live together but remain unmarried, they forego certain rights and protections that are available to people involved in marital unions.  Married people enjoy certain legal rights just by being married, including rights to property and assets in the event of divorce, tax exemptions, estate distributions, insurance benefits, and automatically get a share of their spouse’s property in the event of a death.  Even though you and your partner may consider each other to be family, unfortunately the law will not.  As a result, you will both need to hire a Seattle family and marital law attorney who can take the proper measures to protect your rights.

Contact a Seattle Family Lawyer today to find out more about Washington cohabitation agreements!