Cohabitation agreement california is a contract between unmarried partners that specifies how they will handle property, finances, and support if the relationship ends. Without a cohabitation agreement, unmarried couples in California have very limited legal protections — California does not recognize common law marriage, and standard community property rules do not apply to unmarried couples.
Unmarried Couple Property Rights California
Unmarried couple property rights california are governed by contract law and equity, not family law. Without a cohabitation agreement, each partner generally owns what is in their own name. However, California does recognize the Marvin doctrine (from Marvin v. Marvin, 18 Cal.3d 660, 1976) — which allows unmarried partners to enforce express or implied contracts about property sharing and support. Living together rights california under Marvin include the right to enforce an oral agreement to share property, even without marriage.
Palimony California
Palimony california refers to support payments ordered after the end of a long-term unmarried relationship. Unlike spousal support in a marriage, palimony requires proving an express or implied contract that one partner would support the other. Palimony california claims are brought as civil contract actions, not family law proceedings. The burden of proving the contract is on the party claiming palimony — courts do not impose support obligations on unmarried partners without an agreement.
What a Cohabitation Agreement Should Cover
A cohabitation agreement california should address: how property acquired together will be owned (joint tenants or tenants in common); how expenses will be split; what happens to jointly acquired property if the relationship ends; whether either partner will provide financial support to the other; and what happens to the home if one partner wants to leave. Domestic partnership dissolution california for registered domestic partners follows a process similar to divorce. For unregistered cohabitants, the cohabitation agreement is the primary legal protection. Furubotten Law, APC advises on cohabitation agreements and unmarried partner rights throughout Orange County and Riverside County. Call (714) 795-3862 for a complimentary case evaluation.