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Cohabitation Agreements

Connecticut courts do not recognize common-law marriage, a situation in which a couple lives together (also called cohabitation) and attempts to claim the benefits of legal marriage. In the few states that do recognize common-law marriage, the marriage is, in fact, binding and one partner may sue for alimony upon the dissolution of the relationship. This cannot be done in Connecticut.

At the Law Offices of Ellen B. Lubell, our family lawyers help couples provide a legal structure to their non-marriage relationship by drafting cohabitation agreements that spell out each party’s obligations and responsibilities and the basis for division of assets upon the dissolution of the household.

A cohabitation agreement typically covers:

Who pays for what expenses
How income is shared or not shared
How assets will be acquired and under whose name
What happens to assets in the event the relationship terminates and how such decisions will be made

If children result from the cohabiting relationship, attorney Ellen Lubell will help the couple establish legal paternity and draft a separate child custody agreement to ensure that each parent has full rights regarding and responsibilities for the child.