The marriage license provides a bundle of rights and benefits for the couple.
Some of those rights include:
- Rights of inheritance
- The right not to be excluded from a spouse’s will
- The right to sue for the other’s wrongful death
- The right to social security benefits through a spouse
- The right to file a joint tax return
- The right to hold joint property as tenants
If you choose to live together without that marriage license, the only way to get some of those benefits is through private agreements. An experienced Vancouver, Washington Family Lawyer can help provide such agreements.
Certain issues need to be addressed within the contracts:
- How to live together?
- What happens upon death?
- What happens on separation?
When a couple marries and purchases a home, when one of them dies legally the home automatically goes to the other. For unmarried couples, they need an agreement which will be enforceable if one dies or the couple decides to separate. Personal property must also have an advance agreement on what will happen upon separation. There are no laws for spousal support for an unmarried couple.
Whether a couple is married or not, children should be a priority.
When agreements are being drawn for unmarried couples, children should be a priority. Married or not, parents have the duty to support their children.
A Washington Family Lawyer can help you review all options and have a plan. A family attorney will be able to obtain the necessary documents to execute the plan.
Call Lambert Law 360-737-1473 for a family law attorney who can help with co-habitation agreements.