Is a Co-Habitation Agreement an alternative to marriage?

Only 4% of co-habitants can be seen together after a decade. Majority of co-habiting couples enjoy the initial comfort offered by the freedom of the arrangement but it is reported that women in such relationships often begin to long for a future that can be built only upon the stability of a marital bond.

Necessity of a Cohabitation Agreement

Relationships that might not stand the test of time need to be safeguarded by agreements. Co-habitation agreement is all the more important in the light of the fact that children might form a part of the union. Many mothers (married or otherwise) opt out of the workplace to raise children. When the cohabitation relationship ends, more than 50% of single mothers struggle to meet the growing needs of their young as unmarried fathers are not legally-bound to provide for them. A fact worth mentioning at this juncture is that cohabitating couples do not enjoy any of the legal rights that a married couple is entailed to, even after staying together for decades.

Contents of a Co-habitation Agreement

Co-habitation agreements are entered into after lengthy consultations. Many people feel uncomfortable discussing issues such as these but these discussions and agreements are necessary to make the relationship comfortable.

A co-habitation agreement deals with financial responsibilities, property rights, repayment of debts and provision for children if the relationship ends; inheritances and wills. Some couples also agree upon the demarcation of household jobs.

Entering into such an agreement before co-habitating is vital for peace of mind, allowing the couple to enjoy their stay together without worry. Though agreements are meant to last a lifetime it is advisable to update them regularly.

Online Co-habitation Agreements

The couple who have reached an understanding regarding the details of their stay together try to word their agreement. They submit the details of their agreement in an online form or questionnaire. These submitted details are transferred on to the co-habitation agreement that can be downloaded and printed. Some companies also post the agreement (if the couple requires.) The printed format of the agreement has to be signed by both the partners to make it a legal document.

It is the working out of the details that takes time. Entering these details into an agreement takes two minutes. However, highly personalised agreements that are self-drafted take a longer time to be converted into an agreement. These are sent to solicitors available online for making the document legally-valid. The agreement is edited and made ready in a day and sent back to the couple for their signatures.

Self-drafting of the agreements is a risky process and couples might render them void due to ignorance. Online companies help the couple with the necessary guidance and advice either by phone or email.

Co-habitation agreements by their very nature are legally binding and no couple should enter into one without consulting a solicitor. Consultation can occur online and solicitors are ready to help anytime.

Legal advice is dispensed by solicitors who are highly experienced in family law and the drafted agreements are generally checked and re-checked to ensure client-security.

These companies also stay in touch with all their clients by keeping them regularly updated about changes in family law.

Prices of co-habitation agreements provided online have been kept low due to lack of overheads. These agreements can be created at an average cost of £ 40.00 though these prices and services are subject to change depending upon individual companies.

The increasing numbers of co-habitating couples make it important to reach an agreement. This is to ensure the security of people in this relationship who do not enjoy the same rights as married couples. Couples often make joint purchases of properties when they are together. Ensuring common interests is necessary. 2 out of 10 children are born to co-habitating couples and 70% of these children end up with a single parent. Cohabitation agreements are entered into, to introduce the element of security to an otherwise unstable relationship.


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