Cohabitation Agreements in BC: Why You Need One
Wiki Article
Living together without marrying is very common—but it doesn’t mean you forego legal rights or responsibilities. A cohabitation agreement can give you both clarity, fairness, and protection in case things change. Below is an overview of what a Cohabitation Agreement BC Lawyers in British Columbia is, how it works, what to watch out for, and how lawyers can help.
What Is a Cohabitation Agreement?
A Cohabitation Agreement is a legal contract between two people who are in a conjugal relationship (living together in a common-law or marriage-like relationship), or who plan to live together. The agreement sets out what happens to property, debts, financial support, and possibly other obligations if you separate, or sometimes if one of you dies. It gives you the power to arrange things differently than what default BC family law dictates.
Under BC’s law, especially the Family Law Act, common-law partners have rights regarding property division, debt, and spousal support after cohabitation of a certain duration. If there is no agreement, the statutory rules apply.
Why Do People Use Cohabitation Agreements?
Here are some of the main reasons:
To protect property someone already owns before living together (e.g. homes, investments, inheritances).
To define how debts and property acquired during cohabitation will be divided.
To clarify spousal support obligations or whether support might be excluded in some circumstances.
To reduce uncertainty and disputes later if the relationship ends.
To provide peace of mind, especially when partners have different financial situations, children from prior relationships, or significant assets.