Marriage is a major life-changing step, both personally and legally. Couples who are married cannot simply “break up” and part ways. Instead, married couples who want to break off their relationship must file for divorce. That triggers a complex legal process that can be invasive and unpleasant.
For those reasons and others, a growing number of couples are choosing to live together rather than get married, an arrangement that the law calls “cohabitation.” Illinois recognizes cohabitation as a legal relationship in which two unmarried people live together intimately. Research shows that a larger share of Americans have cohabited than those who have been married.
If two people live together intimately without being married, it is advisable to sign a cohabitation agreement as soon as possible. This article will discuss what a cohabitation agreement is and how to have one drafted by an Illinois family law attorney.