Protect Your Assets in Common Law Marriage

LawDepot.com's Common Law Partner Agreement helps unmarried couples avoid conflict in the event of a separation.

Desert Hot Springs (PRWEB) May 21, 2007 -- Divorce rates in America are the lowest they've been since 1970. Relationship experts suggest that one of the reasons for this trend is that fewer people are opting to get married. Instead, more and more couples are choosing to live together without getting married.

While the trend toward cohabitation and common law marriages has resulted in a lower divorce rate, these relationships are no more stable than a traditional marriage. Many of the same factors that affect divorces can come into play when common law marriages breakdown. Married couples often sign prenuptial agreements to determine what their responsibilities will be both during the marriage, and if the marriage ends. Similarly, couples who choose to live together without getting married may sign a Common Law Partner Agreement (also known as a Cohabitation Agreement (http://www.lawdepot.com/contracts/cohabitation-agreement/)).

A cohabitation agreement (http://www.lawdepot.com/contracts/cohabitation-agreement/) is a written agreement between two parties in a relationship, who live together in a shared household, which governs their rights and obligations. By drafting a cohabitation agreement, an unmarried couple can avoid court ordered support payments and division of property. A cohabitation agreement also helps to avoid conflict during the relationship and upon its breakdown with regard to property ownership, financial obligations, and child support obligations.

LawDepot.com provides customers with a fully customizable Cohabitation Agreement form (http://www.lawdepot.com/contracts/cohabitation-agreement/), allowing them to draft a contract outlining property rights, debt obligations, support obligations, and estate issues. LawDepot.com's easy-to-use software also allows users to draft additional clauses as needed to suit their individual situations.

No one wants to think that their relationship won't work out. But, having a cohabitation agreement (http://www.lawdepot.com/contracts/cohabitation-agreement/) will save both parties from undue stress, in the event that the relationship does collapse. In fact, a study by Heather Mahar of Harvard Law School suggests that signing a prenup improves the chances of having a successful marriage.

While no similar study has been done for cohabitation agreements, there is enough similarity between a prenup and a cohabitation agreement to suggest that cohabitation agreements may strengthen the relationships of unmarried couples. By using LawDepot.com's online form, couples can easily draft a cohabitation agreement that will suit the needs of their relationship.

For more information about the news that is the subject of this release (or for a sample, copy or demo), contact David Pettitt or visit http://www.lawdepot.com/contracts/cohabitation-agreement/.

About LawDepot.com:

LawDepot.com is the most advanced provider of online legal documents. Hundreds of thousands of satisfied customers have appreciated LawDepot.com's efforts to make complex legal documents easy to generate with a simple step by step process. Thorough legal review processes ensure all documents are current and accurate. LawDepot.com offerings cover all facets of the legal industry, ranging from Real Estate, Business and Human Resources, to Estate, Divorce, and Family Law.

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