Cohabitation Agreement between Parties Living Together
but Remaining Unmarried
Agreement made on the ______ day of __________________, 20____, between
_______________________________________ (Party A) of ____________________
_________________________________________________ (street address, city,
county, state, zip code) , and ______________________________ (Party B) of
________________________________________________________________________
(street address, city, county, state, zip code) .
Whereas, the parties to this Agreement have been living together since _________
(date) , at ________________________________________________________________
_______________________________ (street address, city, county, state, zip code), and
it is their intent to continue such living arrangement; and
Whereas, each of the parties is an unmarried adult and a resident of
_____________________ (state) ; and
Whereas, _____________________________ (Party A) is a/an __________
__________________________ (occupation) and ______________________________
(Party B) is a/an _________________________________________ (occupation) ; and
Whereas, each of the parties intends to continue in his or her present occupation;
and
Whereas, the parties intend by this Agreement to define their property rights with
one another; and
Whereas, the parties intend that this Agreement shall supersede any case and/or
statutory law of ________________________ (state) defining the rights and duties of
persons living together in an unmarried state; and
Whereas, the parties do not intend that any informal or common-law marriage
shall arise by virtue of the parties cohabiting with one another;
Now, therefore, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this
agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
I. Consideration
The consideration for this Agreement consists of the mutual promises of each
party to act as a companion and homemaker to the other, in addition to the other promises
contained in this Agreement. The furnishing of sexual services forms no part of the
consideration for this Agreement. The parties agree that any services which either party
may provide to the other or for the benefit of the other are fully compensated by this
Agreement.
II. Earnings as Separate Property
The earnings of each party, while living together, shall remain their separate
property and shall not be subject to division on termination of the parties' relationship.
III. Payment of Living Expenses
The parties agree that _____________________________ (Party A) shall pay
________% and ___________________________________ (Party B) shall pay
________% of their living expenses while they are living together.
______________________________ (Party A) shall deposit the sum of $___________
monthly and _____________________ ________ (Party B) shall deposit the sum of
$__________ monthly into a joint checking account on which either party may draw.
Any property purchased from that account and any balance in the account shall be owned
in the same percentages as contributions to the account.
IV. Assets and Liabilities as Separate Property
Each of the parties agrees that property owned or acquired by either party shall
remain the separate property of each party. This property shall include, but not be limited
to, all property, whether real or personal, owned by either party at the effective date of
this Agreement; all property acquired by the other party out of the proceeds or income
from property owned at the effective date of this Agreement or attributable to
appreciation in value of such property, whether the enhancement is due to market
conditions or to the services, skills, or efforts of its owners; and all property subsequently
acquired by either party by gift, bequest, devise, or inheritance, or income from such
property, or attributable to the appreciation in value of such property, whether the
enhancement is due to market conditions or to the services, skills, or efforts of its owner.
Neither party shall be liable for the individual and separate debts incurred by the other
party.
V. Present Financial Condition of Each Party
A balance sheet of each party has been attached to this Agreement as Exhibits A
and B. Neither party represents his or her respective balance sheet to be an exact
computation of his or her assets and liabilities, but the balance sheet constitutes a
reasonable approximation of each party's assets and liabilities. Each party represents to
the other that he or she has fully disclosed to the other his or her financial situation by the
representations contained in the balance sheet, subject only to the warning that the
balance sheet was prepared informally and not by professional accountants.
VI. Disposition of Property
Either party to this Agreement may, by appropriate written instrument, transfer,
convey, devise, or bequeath any property to the other. Neither party intends to limit or
restrict in any way the right to receive any such transfer, conveyance, devise, or bequest
from the other, except as expressly stated in this Agreement.
VII. Change in Status of Property
Except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement, the property or interests in
property now owned or later acquired by either party, which by the terms of this
Agreement is classified as the separate property of one party, can only become the
separate property of the other party or the joint property of both by a written instrument
executed by the party whose separate property is to be reclassified.
VIII. Fiduciary Relationship
Each of the parties promises to act in good faith and to deal fairly toward the other
in the management of their joint property and in living under the terms of this Agreement.
IX. Governing Law
The law of _______________________ ( state) shall apply in the interpretation of
this Agreement and the ownership of the property of the parties except to the extent the
parties have expressly agreed otherwise in this Agreement.
X. Complete Agreement
This Agreement sets forth the entire Agreement between the parties with regard to
the subject matter. All agreements, covenants, representations, and warranties, either
express or implied, oral or written, of the parties with regard to their financial
relationship, either past, present, or future, commencing as of the date they began living
together and terminating if and when they separate, are contained in this Agreement.
No other agreements, covenants, representations, or warranties, either express or implied,
oral or written, have been made by either party to the other with respect to the subject
matter of this Agreement. All prior and contemporaneous oral conversations,
negotiations, possible and alleged agreements and representations, covenants and
warranties with respect to the subject matter are waived, merged into, and superseded by
this Agreement.
XI. Attorney Fees
Should either party retain counsel for the purpose of the enforcement or the
prevention of the breach of any provision of this Agreement, including, but not limited to,
the institution of any action or proceeding to enforce any provision of it, for damages by
reason of any alleged breach of any provision, or for a declaration of the party's rights or
obligations under this Agreement, or for any other judicial remedy, the prevailing party
shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the losing party for all costs and expenses incurred
by the same, including, but not limited to, costs and reasonable attorney fees for the
services rendered to the prevailing party.
XII. Costs and Expenses
Each party shall bear his or her respective costs and expenses incurred in
connection with this Agreement, including the negotiation, preparation, and
consummation of the Agreement.
XIII. Consultation with Attorney
The parties acknowledge that, prior to the signing of this Agreement, each party
consulted with an attorney of his or her choice and the terms and legal significance of this
Agreement and the effect which it has upon any interest which each party might obtain in
the property of the other was fully explained to each. Each party acknowledges that he or
she fully understands the significance of this Agreement and its legal effect and that he or
she shall sign the same freely and voluntarily and that neither has any reason to believe
that the other party did not understand fully the terms and effects of this Agreement or
that he or she did not freely and voluntarily execute this Agreement.
XIV. Effect of Death
Each of the parties waives the right to be supported by the other after their
separation or after the death of either party.
XV. Mandatory Arbitration
Any dispute under this Agreement shall be required to be resolved by binding
arbitration of the parties hereto. If the parties cannot agree on an arbitrator, each party
shall select one arbitrator and both arbitrators shall then select a third. The third
arbitrator so selected shall arbitrate said dispute. The arbitration shall be governed by the
rules of the American Arbitration Association then in force and effect.
XVI. Amendment
This Agreement can only be amended by a written agreement signed by both
parties.
XVII. Effective Date
This Agreement shall be effective as of ____________________ (date) , and shall
continue until either the separation of the parties or the death of either party. Separation
shall be as defined under the law of _________________________ (state) relating to
marital separation
WITNESS our signatures as of the day and date first above stated.
__________________________ __________________________
PARTY A PARTY B
(Attach Exhibits)
Certification of Attorney for _________________________________ (Party A)
I, ____________________________________ (name of attorney) , certify that I
am a licensed attorney, admitted to practice law in _________________ ( state) ; I have
consulted with _________________________________ (Party A) , who is a party to the
foregoing Agreement, and I have fully advised him/her of his/her property rights and of
the legal significance of the foregoing Agreement; and
________________________________ (Party A) has acknowledged his/her full and
complete understanding of the legal consequences and of the terms and provisions of the
foregoing Agreement and has freely and voluntarily executed the Agreement in my
presence.
_______________________________
(Signature of Attorney)
Certification of Attorney for ______________________________ (Party B)
I, ______________________________ (name of attorney) , certify that I am a
licensed attorney, admitted to practice law in _______________________ ( state) ; I have
consulted with _________________________________ (Party B) , who is a party to the
foregoing Agreement, and I have fully advised him/her of his/her property rights and of
the legal significance of the foregoing Agreement; and
_______________________________ (Party B) , who has acknowledged his/her full and
complete understanding of the legal consequences and of the terms and provisions of the
foregoing Agreement, has freely and voluntarily executed the Agreement in my presence.
__________________________________
(Signature of Attorney)