You may benefit from a cohabitation agreement if any of the following apply to you:
- There is property that you want to protect in the event of that your relationships ends (i.e.: inheritances, pensions, gifts, assets that you are bringing into the relationship, assets that you will acquire during the relationship, etc.);
- This is not your first marriage or common-law relationship and you want to preserve your assets;
- You want to preserve your assets for your children when you die;
- You want to reach an agreement with your spouse about any possible future claims for spousal support in case the relationship ends;
- You want to avoid an expensive and acrimonious separation if the relationship ends;
- You want to set out how finances will be handled during your relationship;
- You want to have a say as to “who keeps what” if the relationship ends.
The reality is that relationships do end, sometimes before we hope they might. A cohabitation agreement allows you and your partner to put a plan in place at a time when you feel secure in your relationship, which can be easier than reaching an agreement while a relationship is ending. A cohabitation agreement can also help you and your partner more easily resolve disputes arising from the end of your relationship, and limit the possibility of conflicts that need to be resolved in court. A carefully drafted cohabitation agreement, created with the advice of a lawyer, can be a very effective tool in helping you and your partner plan for the future.